>> A team of volunteer dentists, hygienists, and dental technicians have formed the latest health expedition, highlighting ADEMA’s educational methodology of service learning and social responsibility.
>> More than 2,500 patients have been treated on Wasini Island since the end of October 2021 as part of the Island to Island program
>> The team of volunteers has provided prosthetics and restorative and cosmetic dentistry treatments, as well as delivering a health promotion program to more than 300 students in Wasini’s educational centers to raise awareness of the negative effects of sugars and teach them brushing techniques and healthy oral hygiene habits.
A delegation from ADEMA has just returned from Kenya after participating in a new international cooperation expedition to Wasini Island, within the framework of the “Island to Island – Illa a Illa” oral health promotion and assistance program. The visit also included a working meeting in Nairobi with representatives from Great Lakes University of Kisumu and the Institute of Healthcare Management to explore potential academic and training cooperation agreements in the field of health sciences.
The meeting focused on identifying areas of cooperation in teaching and program development, as well as analyzing training models with a clinical component and an orientation towards employability.
In the case of Great Lakes University of Kisumu, the proposal to promote a Bachelor of Dental Surgery program based in Kisumu was addressed, aligned with international standards of dental education, and with an emphasis on clinical competence, biomedical sciences and community oral health care.
Meanwhile, discussions were held with the Institute of Healthcare Management to explore potential collaborations aimed at strengthening and expanding diploma programs and their academic progression pathways. Priority areas identified included Dental Hygiene, Radiologic Technology, and Dietetics, as well as the development of clinical practice networks in healthcare settings.
The president of ADEMA, Diego González, positively assessed the meeting and highlighted the objective of defining lines of cooperation that allow progress in joint projects, promote academic exchange and strengthen health training in accordance with international standards and the accreditation systems in force in Kenya.
In parallel, the delegation has developed a new international cooperation expedition on the island of Wasini, within the Island to Island Illa a Illa program, lasting two weeks.
ADEMA has already organized seven expeditions since the end of October 2021 and has treated more than 2,500 patients in Wasini. The expeditions are comprised of multidisciplinary teams of volunteers, including dentists, hygienists, dental technicians, nutritionists, teachers, and ADEMA students. During the various missions, preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatments have been performed, in addition to oral rehabilitation, fissure sealants, and the fabrication of dental prostheses—services that are particularly in demand among the local population. These interventions aim to improve oral health and reduce the social impact associated with visible dental problems.
In the area of health education, a promotional and awareness program has been developed for the school community of the island’s two educational centers, which serve more than 300 students, from preschool through primary and secondary school. Activities have included training on brushing techniques, healthy eating habits, and raising awareness about the effects of sugar consumption, as well as the distribution of toothbrushes.
During the mission, the group of volunteers expressed their satisfaction with the warm welcome they received and the improved care provided on each expedition, emphasizing the importance of combining clinical intervention with health education initiatives to enhance medium-term outcomes. Participants also highlighted the collaborative work with the local community and the value of continuing a project that addresses healthcare and preventative needs in a resource-limited setting.
The president of the ADEMA+ Foundation, Diego González, pointed out that “access to oral healthcare in these islands presents significant difficulties due to the lack of adequate infrastructure, the shortage of professionals, economic and geographical barriers, and limited oral health education.” Finally, he stated that “this project is part of the institution’s social responsibility and its educational methodology based on service-learning, which integrates student training with actions that have a direct impact on vulnerable communities.”