SIFAX Group have partnered with the University of Ibadan Association of Dental Students (UADS) to deliver a community dental outreach aimed at improving access to oral healthcare.
The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Muyiwa Akande explained that more than 100 traders and residents of new Gbagi market, Ibadan, received free dental consultations, preventive oral healthcare and basic medical screenings.
The outreach, he said, was held under the Committee on Dental Education and Health (CODEH), saying that 101 participants undergo comprehensive dental consultations after an initial registration of about 130 people.
Akande noted that beneficiaries also received free blood pressure, blood glucose, and body mass index (BMI) checks, while 30 patients with identified oral health needs underwent professional scaling and polishing procedures.
He added: “The initiative forms part of SIFAX Group’s commitment to supporting community health interventions and expanding access to quality healthcare services for underserved populations.”
At the event, the President of the University of Ibadan Association of Dental Students (UADS), Patrick Okelue lauded the unwavering support received from SIFAX Group and appreciated the residents of Gbagi market and its environ for their cooperation and accommodation in ensuring a successful outreach.
He said: “Available medical data shows that less than half of the total adult population in this city had adequate knowledge of oral health, and only 22.1 per cent of those that know had utilised any kind of dental services in the past year, indicating a significant knowledge gap. To close that knowledge gap is why we are here today.
“SIFAX Group has been the association’s longtime sponsor, and we are grateful that they make this year’s programme possible as ever. Today, we have been able to do oral health talks, check people’s blood pressure, BMI, and blood glucose. These people have also been able to consult with dental health professionals, with many of them referred to professionals for scaling and polishing, which we are doing at this market live.
“To ensure the success of the exercise, the company funded key aspects of the programme, including venue preparation, medical consumables, personal protective equipment (PPE), transportation for volunteers, publicity materials, souvenirs and other logistics.
“The outreach mobilised over 60 student volunteers from the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital (UCH), supported by six clinical supervisors from the University’s Departments of Periodontology and Community Dentistry.”