This weekend, Senegal celebrated a significant milestone in dental education and care at the Faculty of Dentistry at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar.
Mercy Ships, in collaboration with the Institute of Dentistry and Oral Medicine (IOS), the Ministry of Health and Social Action, and other key partners, inaugurated a state-of-the-art dental clinic and laid the foundation stone for a forthcoming dental training center. These two major projects will have a profound impact on dental education and clinical services in Senegal.
Leaders from government, academia, and the medical community gathered to witness this significant event and expressed their unwavering commitment to improving oral health services in Senegal.
Serigné Mbaye, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health and Social Action, noted that the two projects aim to strengthen national capacity in multiple areas and expand access to high-quality oral care by integrating systematic training into clinical practice.
The newly completed dental clinic is now fully operational and features 10 modern dental chairs and a dedicated radiology department.
Professor Bala Ndiaye, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry, said, “Today marks the official launch of a public health initiative centered on dignity, solidarity, and equity.”
Meanwhile, the planned dental training center, expected to be completed within the next two years and equipped with 30 dental chairs, aims to significantly advance regional dental professionalism and strengthen educational and clinical services.
David Ougay, Mercy Ships’ Guinea Director, emphasized that this partnership demonstrates the organization’s long-term commitment to sustainable health capacity building in Senegal and across West Africa.
This milestone was achieved through the close collaboration between Mercy Ships, the UCAD School of Dentistry, and multiple health and education institutions, working together to empower a new generation of dental professionals and promote universal access to oral health services.
