Students from Fiji National University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences have completed a four-day dental outreach program at Nakavu Village in Namosi.
The initiative, held from August 18 to 22, involved 24 students from the Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Oral Health, and Certificate in Dental Assisting programs. Six staff members accompanied the students to deliver essential dental services, including extractions, fillings, preventive treatments, and oral health education.
Participants came from Fiji, Australia, Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tokelau, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and Kiribati. During the program, students stayed with local households and took part in village life, gaining a deeper understanding of rural health challenges.
Dr. Vidhant Krishna Nambiar, head of the College’s Department of Dental Public Health, Pediatrics, and Preventive Dentistry, said the program helps students develop both professional and cultural competencies.
“Through this outreach, students provide vital care while also building the skills required in dentistry and oral health,” Dr. Nambiar said.
Over the course of the program, nearly 200 patients were screened and treated. Highlights included the detection of potentially malignant oral lesions and educational sessions on environmental risk factors affecting oral health.
Dr. Nambiar added that while the initiative offered free dental care to the community, it also enriched student learning, particularly in public health practice.
