Portuguese Humanitarian Mission Provided Oral Healthcare to 3,000 People in Kenya

A humanitarian mission coordinated by two dentists from the Egas Moniz School of Health & Science provided oral healthcare, training, and health literacy initiatives to approximately 3,000 residents in underprivileged areas of Kenya during August.

The initiative was coordinated by André Mariz de Almeida and Catarina Martinho and took place in two regions of the country: Samburu and Nairobi. Between July 29 and August 15, the team was on the ground in Samburu, subsequently moving to Nairobi, where they worked until August 20.

Drawing on previous experience in humanitarian missions in Africa, the coordinators led a multidisciplinary team that included professionals from the fields of pediatrics, psychology, and hospital pharmacy. The intervention was developed in collaboration with non-governmental organizations and local entities, with a primary focus on oral healthcare.

During the mission, minimally invasive restorative treatments, fluoride applications, and oral health education sessions were conducted for both children and adults. The team also supported the only medical dispensary in the Samburu region with essential first-aid equipment. In parallel, the construction of a clean water well was initiated, addressing a critical need in a region severely impacted by extreme drought, poverty, and a lack of access to water and healthcare.

Supported by local partners and donations, the mission sought not only to address immediate needs but also to lay the foundations for continuous support and local development.

Our Biomedical Laboratory Sciences student, Mariana Rosa, joined the project 'Diagnostic Capacity Building for Sickle Cell Disease in Guinea-Bissau' under the Santander Egas Moniz Volunteering program. This mission combines technological innovation, training for local healthcare professionals, and the creation of sustainable diagnostic systems, contributing to transforming the reality of sickle cell disease in the country.

A mission carried out in São Tomé and Príncipe strengthened oral health training, clinical monitoring, and the population's epidemiological knowledge, within the framework of a project funded by the 'Saúde no Sítio' Program of the Secretariat-General of the Portuguese Ministry of Health.

The initiative resulted from a partnership between Mundo a Sorrir and the Egas Moniz School of Health & Science and was integrated into the PhD in Dental Medicine of Leonor Assunção Marinho, who was responsible for coordinating the mission. The project aimed to collect data on the country's oral health status, contributing to the definition of strategies with a sustainable impact in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Between August 30 and September 13, a team trained and calibrated by Egas Moniz conducted fieldwork in all districts of São Tomé and in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe, implementing a project based on three main pillars: periodontology training for oral health students, supervision of clinical internships, and an oral health epidemiological survey of the population aged 15 and over.

During the mission, there was also an opportunity to share the work with the local community through an interview with Rádio Lobata, highlighting the importance of periodontal health prevention and the impact of the intervention in the country.

This mission consolidated Egas Moniz's commitment to international health cooperation, professional training, and the production of socially relevant scientific knowledge, aligned with a sustainable and long-term approach.