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Giving Back at Epsom Dental Centre

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Giving Back: Supporting Dental Education in Malawi

Giving Back: Supporting Dental Education in Malawi

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.

Giving Back: Supporting Dental Education in Malawi

The MalDent Project

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.

Giving Back: Supporting Dental Education in Malawi

Supporting Dental Students

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.

Giving Back: Supporting Dental Education in Malawi

Our Commitment

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.

Giving Back: Supporting Dental Education in Malawi
Chig meeting the final year dental students at KUHeS along with Professor Jeremy Bagg (Former Head of the University of Glasgow Dental School and Scottish Lead for the Scottish Government funded MalDent Project).
Giving Back: Supporting Dental Education in Malawi
Giving Back: Supporting Dental Education in Malawi
Chig outside the University Dental Department with some of the faculty members.
Giving Back: Supporting Dental Education in Malawi
Chig and Jeremy being greeted on arrival at Chileka Airport by our patient Ruth Markus and some KUHeS staff and students.

Meet Joshua Chimtengo:
Our Sponsored Student

We are delighted to introduce Joshua Chimtengo, the outstanding young student selected for sponsorship by Epsom Dental Centre.

An Exceptional Candidate

Joshua’s selection process was overseen by Ruth Markus, a patient of Epsom Dental Centre who also runs AMECA, a charity in Malawi. Joshua stood out during the interviews with his maturity, passion, and exceptional grasp of Malawi’s National Oral Health Policy—all remarkable qualities for someone just turning 19.

Although the selection process was challenging, Joshua impressed everyone with his enthusiasm, professionalism, and well-articulated vision for his career in dentistry.

Joshua’s Journey

Joshua is currently completing Year 1 of his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) and will begin Year 2 in early 2025. His dedication to his studies is truly inspiring, especially given the personal and financial challenges he faces:

  • Family & Location: Joshua’s mother lives in Lilongwe, approximately six hours away, but he is unable to visit her often due to the high cost of travel.
  • Living Situation: Unable to secure on-campus accommodation, he resides in a private hostel where he pays K50,000 per month and cooks his meals using basic facilities. 
  • Financial Challenges: His current government loan barely covers his rent and food, leaving little room for additional expenses like internet access or travel.

Despite these challenges, Joshua remains highly focused on his education and committed to making a difference in Malawi’s oral healthcare system.

How Epsom Dental Centre is Helping

Through our sponsorship, Epsom Dental Centre will provide full tuition support for Joshua for the next four years, enabling him to focus entirely on his studies without the burden of financial worries. Additionally, we are providing a monthly subsistence allowance of K160,000 to help cover his rent, food, and internet access. Kwacha (K) fees are 1,000,000 per academic year, which equates to about £438 per annum. The subsistence allowance provided is K160,000 which equates to about £67 per month. In addition to these fees Joshua also needed a laptop and phone for his studies and to stay connected. The total cost for the academic year is £1,402. 

We also hope to equip Joshua with a smartphone, allowing him to stay connected via WhatsApp and better engage with his support network.

A Bright Future Ahead

Joshua’s determination, maturity, and vision for the future inspire us. We are confident he will excel in his studies and become a brilliant dentist, contributing significantly to Malawi’s oral healthcare needs.

We look forward to sharing updates on Joshua’s progress and the impact of this sponsorship on his journey.

“My name is Joshua Chimtengo currently in Bachelor of Dental Surgery year 1. I have written to express my interest in the opportunity for the Epsom Dental Centre scholarship that was communicated to us through the school emails. I live in Lilongwe with my mother who is the only parent that I have grown up with. She has raised me by solely relying on small scale businesses depending on what is in season ranging from selling local snacks for kids (kamba) to selling thobwa.

My father left us when I was just two years old and went to South Africa looking for better opportunities. When he left, we never heard from him again until 2016 when he was seriously ill and had come back to his relatives. He later passed on in 2018 when I was in form 2. I did my secondary school at Dedza Secondary School, and I am grateful that I went to this school because the fees were very affordable unlike similar secondary schools at the same time. We used to pay MK18,500 per term and this for me was a relief because if the fees were higher, I would not have been able to afford it.

When we came to university it was a burden because it meant that I had to cater for everything by myself even when the fees were also very high. The loans board is the only shelter that has saved my academics because without it I would not have been able to carry the daily expenses that is food and accommodation, let alone the tuition fees. Looking beyond my university studies, I am very passionate to specialise in endodontics simply because I have observed that most Malawians have problems with tooth infections and due to lack of expertise, many end up removing teeth that could have been repaired and healed completely. I am also planning on pursuing a career in public health focusing on sensitising people on dental health and the ways in which they can prevent common tooth problems by simply taking care of their teeth. I also noticed that most times, people do not realise that they are having dental problems until the damage is beyond repair and they lose their teeth. I aim to bring public awareness especially to people living in remote areas where such information does not easily reach them.

When I saw the email announcing this scholarship opportunity, I realised this is my chance to get additional financial aid because I really need it. With the daily rising cost of living, it is becoming more and more clear that it will get extremely hard to survive as a university student because the costs are really becoming expensive every passing day. When one begins to consider the costs for food, accommodation, groceries and even the tuition fees, you can really appreciate that there is a need for a strong financial stamina which I do not have a privilege of. This is primarily why I quickly jumped on this opportunity and applied for this scholarship. Any assistance you can provide would not only help me to overcome my financial barriers but also bring me closer to achieving my academic and career goals.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I am very eager to contribute to the

Joshua Chimtengo
chig amin dentist

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Carolina S.
Carolina S.
I'm aged 57 and have had a fear of the dentists since I was small and I have found this to be the best Dentist Practice I have ever experienced. Catherine and the other receptionists are very welcoming and reassuring. Teresa the hygienist is very methodical, gentle and patient. Mitesh is the most calm, reassuring and professional dentist. I actually look forward to going to the dentist now. Their membership plan is fabulous too and ensures I have a 6 monthly dentist and hygienist check. If you are looking for a calm, friendly, reassuring and thorough dental practice with whom you can trust then look no further. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Janet R.
Janet R.
This is, by far, the best dental practice I have ever used. I am a nervous customer and receive nothing but kindness and understanding when going for dental care from the reception staff through to all the dentists and support staff. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Christopher G.
Christopher G.
Rahul and team are the best dental practice I have ever been to and I have visited many around the world (too many sweets as a child!!). Rahul helped me with a Dental emergency 5 years ago and this practice has been looking after our family since then. I highly recommend them.
Sammy P.
Sammy P.
I have been a patient at Epsom Dental Centre for years and highly recommend it. I’ve always received the best treatment and service - they actually make it a joy to go to the dentist! Thank you to the team at Epsom Dental Centre for looking after me so well.
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