Cimas Health Group has partnered United Kingdom-based dental charity SmileStar and local partners to provide free oral healthcare services to underserved communities in the Matabeleland region.
The initiative, coordinated through the Cimas Dental Unit, forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme and comes amid growing demand for dental care.
Cimas and SmileStar doctors will offer free dental services at Ethandweni Children’s Home from March 17 to 18, before moving to Matopo Mission Clinic from March 19 to 20.
The outreach programme, expanding to Matabeleland South for the first time this year, builds on the success of the inaugural initiative launched last year in Matabeleland North where more than 1 000 people received free dental care in Victoria Falls and Dete, Hwange.
This year’s programme began last week at Mkhosana Clinic in Victoria Falls, where the medical team provided treatment from March 9 to 11 before moving to Miombo Safari Camp in Dete.
SmileStar founder Mitesh Badiani said the outreach was a success, with more than 1 000 patients attended to during five days of clinical services in Matabeleland North.
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“We have received a better-than-expected turnout in Matabeleland North province. The collaboration with our local partners, Cimas Health Group through its Dental Unit, Hwange Safari Lodge, and Miombo Safari Camp, is enabling the successful delivery of dental services in Zimbabwe and helping us to achieve our intended results in underserved communities,” Badiani said.
Badiani said the outreach treated hundreds of patients daily, many of whom presented with multiple dental conditions requiring several extractions.
Cimas Health Group head of dental clinics Alan Gura said the programme aligned with the organisation’s mission to inspire healthier communities.
“As we head to Matobo in Matabeleland South province, we are pleased with the progress made during the five days of clinical work at Mkhosana Clinic in Victoria Falls and Miombo Safari Camp in Dete,” he said.
“More than 1 000 patients received services including restorative work, periodontal treatment and simple endodontic procedures that can be completed in a single visit.”
Gura said the outreach team was using a fully-equipped mobile dental clinic to ensure patients receive the level of care available at Cimas’
permanent facilities.