Giving Back at Epsom Dental Centre

Why Malawi?

Malawi, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, is home to an estimated population of 20.93 million (2023) and faces significant challenges as one of the poorest nations in the world. With 70% of its population living on less than $2.15 a day, the country relies heavily on agriculture, employing over 80% of its people. Unfortunately, this reliance also makes Malawi highly vulnerable to external shocks such as climate change.

A stark reality in Malawi is its critical shortage of oral healthcare providers. Currently, the country has only about 40 dentists serving its entire population of 21 million people. Until recently, all dentists in Malawi were trained overseas, making local access to dental education an urgent priority.

In 2017, work began to address this gap through a partnership between the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) and the University of Glasgow, supported by the Scottish Government. This initiative, known as The MalDent Project, has achieved significant milestones:

• Established a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree programme at KUHeS, launched in August 2019.
• Developed a National Oral Health Policy in collaboration with Malawi’s Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, launched in April 2022.

Malawi’s first cohort of home-trained dentists is set to graduate in early 2025, marking a pivotal step in building a sustainable oral healthcare system within the country.

The level of poverty in Malawi places immense strain on educational institutions and students alike. While many students achieve the grades to qualify for courses like Dentistry, financial barriers often prevent them from continuing their education. Tuition fees, accommodation, and living costs can become insurmountable challenges, leading to heartbreaking withdrawals from university by talented individuals.

To address this issue, NGOs and private donors have stepped in to provide scholarships for deserving students at KUHeS. One such organisation, AMECA, has played a significant role in overseeing scholarships for dental students, enabling them to pursue their dreams and contribute to the healthcare needs of their communities.

In September 2024, Dr. Chig Amin, our Practice Principal, visited Malawi and witnessed firsthand the impactful work being carried out by AMECA, based in Epsom and The MalDent Project. During this visit, Dr. Amin met with current dental students and saw the challenges they face as well as the transformative potential of supporting their education. Inspired by this experience, our practice has committed to sponsoring one BDS student from 2025 until the completion of their degree in 2030. We believe this sponsorship will not only change the life of a talented young individual but also contribute to strengthening Malawi’s oral healthcare system.

Join Us in Making a Difference – We would love to share our experiences of sponsoring a Malawian dental student with other dental practices or individuals interested in supporting this vital cause. What might seem like a small financial contribution to us can profoundly impact a student’s life and help build the much-needed oral healthcare workforce in Malawi. Together, we can make a lasting difference.