Dakar: A landmark moment for dental education and access to oral healthcare in Senegal was celebrated this weekend at the Department of Dentistry of Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar. Mercy Ships (www.Mercyships.org), in partnership with the Institute of Odontology and Stomatology (IOS), the Ministry of Health and Social Action, and other key stakeholders, inaugurated a brand-new dental clinic and officially laid the foundation stone for a new dental training center, two major projects aimed at transforming dental training and care in Senegal.

According to African Press Organization, the ceremony brought together senior representatives from government, academia, the healthcare sector, and Mercy Ships. The event marked both a celebration and a shared commitment to improving oral health services in the country.

These two infrastructures meet multiple objectives: strengthening national capacities, improving access to quality oral care, by fully integrating initial training into supervised clinical practice, said Serigne Mbaye, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health and Social Action.

The second major development is the upcoming dental training center, designed to further strengthen training infrastructure. Once completed within the next two years, the center will offer 30 dental chairs for increasing specialization for the sub-region, creating a significant boost in both educational and clinical services.

This collaboration reflects Mercy Ships long-term commitment to sustainable healthcare capacity building in Senegal and across West Africa, said David Ugai, Country Director for Guinea at Mercy Ships. This milestone is a direct result of a strong partnership between Mercy Ships, UCAD, and national health and education institutions, working together toward the shared goal of empowering a new generation of dental professionals and expanding access to quality oral healthcare for all.