The Pamoja mission statement is, “together maintaining a quality smile”, and the team believes in empowering the Tanzanian population through oral health education; its project goals were created with this belief in mind. After supporting the Pamoja Programme’s first outreach mission in 2015, where 2,800 school children were educated about oral health and 2,000 screened for oral diseases within a two week period, Henry Schein UK continues to donate important dental healthcare products for the programme in Tanzania.
In August 2016, 16 dental students and young dentists from all over Europe worked with a Tanzanian dental student team for two weeks to educate around 2,500 school children in Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo about oral health and to reinforce the World Health Organisation’s Fit for School initiative. In addition, children have been provided with toothbrushes and toothpaste and screened for oral diseases. Treatments such as oral hygiene instructions, scaling, restorations, fluoride varnishes and fissure sealant applications were provided on location. More complex treatment such as extractions were done at the Dental Clinic at Bagamoyo by Muhimbili dental students, or patients were transferred to the dental hospital in Dar es Salaam for more complex treatments.
“During the Pamoja Programme outreaches, the dental students and young dentists were working with an enormous enthusiasm and passion to provide desperately needed treatment, preventive care and health care education to those in need”, said Patrick Allen, managing director of Henry Schein Dental in the United Kingdom. “It was a pleasure to continue our support for the team and enhance their efforts to increase access to oral health by donating the much needed healthcare products.”
This initiative is part of Henry Schein Cares, Henry Schein’s global corporate social responsibility programme. Through the work of Henry Schein Cares to enhance access to care for those in need, the company believes that it is furthering its long term success. Healthcare activities supported by Henry Schein Cares focus on three main areas: advancing wellness, building capacity in the delivery of health care services and assisting in emergency preparedness and relief.