More than 1,600 residents from across Tororo District have received free dental treatment during a five-day outreach organised by a consortium of Rotary clubs from Uganda and Europe in partnership with SmileStar UK.
The medical camp, held at selected health facilities across the district, attracted hundreds of children, adults and elderly residents seeking treatment for various dental conditions, including tooth extractions and other oral health complications.
SmileStar UK founder Dr Mitesh Badiani said the outreach was intended to address two major barriers that prevent many Ugandans from accessing dental care: limited availability of services, particularly in rural areas, and the high cost of treatment.
"We are addressing two major challenges. The first is access because many people in rural communities have no access to dentists. The second is affordability, as many cannot afford dental treatment," Dr Badiani said.
Stephen Owori, chairperson of the Sam Owori Foundation, said the initiative had provided much-needed relief to residents who would otherwise have gone without treatment.
"We have been able to treat many people who would not have accessed these services, and that has made a significant difference to the community," Owori said.
Rotary Club of Kampala President Shem Nsubuga said the outreach builds on similar initiatives previously conducted in Uganda, reflecting Rotary's continued commitment to expanding access to healthcare services.
Despite the success of the exercise, Tororo District Health Officer Dr Jagire Onyango raised concern over the severe shortage of dental professionals in the district.
He said Tororo has only one public dental officer serving the entire district, making it difficult to meet the growing demand for oral healthcare.
"We have only one public dental officer serving the entire district, and that is already a huge gap," Dr Onyango said.
Dentists also linked the rising number of dental cases to excessive sugar consumption and urged the public to adopt healthier eating habits.
"Avoid putting sugar in tea and coffee. If you are giving children sweets or chocolate, avoid giving them between meals. If we change these habits, we shall see a reduction in dental diseases," Dr Badiani advised.
Health experts said regular dental check-ups, good oral hygiene and reduced sugar consumption remain essential in preventing dental diseases, especially in communities with limited access to dental care.
