Turkish Dentists Put a Smile on the Faces of the Kenyan people with TİKA

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and Women’s Education and Culture Foundation (HEKVA) performed the dental screenings of 2,500 people, consisting of mostly women and children, and 750 dental treatments in the Oral and Dental Health Treatments and Awareness Week organized in Lamu and Faza islands in the Lamu County on the coast of Indian Ocean in Kenya.

Within the framework of the Promoting Inclusive and Quality Healthcare Program (PIQH) implemented in disadvantaged areas in Kenya, 5 dentists from Turkey worked with Kenyan dentists during the health camp organized on September 21-27, 2019. Turkey’s Ambassador to Nairobi Ahmet Cemil Miroğlu and the Governor of Lamu County Fahim Yasin Twaha visited the health camp and received information about the works. Miroğlu stated that he was happy with the healthcare works carried out by TİKA and Turkish NGOs to improve the quality of healthcare services in the Lamu County, located on the coast of Indian Ocean, and all around Kenya.

It is All for a Smile

Commenting on the health camp, TİKA Nairobi Program Coordinator Emre Yüksek said: “We have been trying to bring Turkey’s experience in the healthcare industry to Kenya for a long time with various health camps and awareness projects within the framework of the Promoting Inclusive and Quality Healthcare Program. During the health camp organized in Lamu and Faza islands with the motto, “It is All for a Smile,” 5 Turkish female dentists and their Kenyan colleagues traveled long distances on boats every day and performed dental screenings and treatments in villages. 2,500 dental screenings and 750 dental treatments were performed in one week. In addition, medications were provided to many patients.”

There is one dentist for every 30,000 people

In Kenya, there are problems with access to healthcare services and the quality and affordability of these services, especially in the countryside. According to the 2018 data of Kenya’s Ministry of Health, there is one dentist for every 30,000 people in Kenya. 80% of these dentists are in big city centers, and large populations living in the countryside are deprived of qualified dental health services. Moreover, there is no free dental health service in Kenya for children and adults in need.