Country Manager
Mina Karapet, Susan Sarwari and Marta Do Nascimento
Mail: volontar@tandlakareutangranser.se
Zimbabwe is located in southern Africa and is bordered to the south by the Limpopo River and to the north by the Zambezi River and borders Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique. The country has no coastline and is located on a high plateau with the capital Harare at about 1530 m above sea level. The population consists of just over 16 million (2016) and over 60% are under 25 years of age. Official languages are English, Shona and Ndebele. The country has been hit hard by AIDS and it has put a heavy financial burden on the health sector. Dentistry is a 5-year course, and "Dental therapists" who have a 3-year course are also trained. It is estimated that there are 300 active dental care staff in the country.
Our partner for TLUG is Dr Advance Chingwena, active at the United Methodist Dental Clinic in central Harare and a teacher at the dental college. Out in the country, there are three satellite clinics: Old Mutare and Mutambara in the east towards Mozambique, as well as Nyadire northeast of Harare. Many people live in the areas, and there are schools as well as hospitals.
Swedes have helped to build up dental care within the United Methodist Church both in Harare and out in the countryside since the mid-1980s. Back then, dental care was SIDA-supported, but since 2003, the clinic that we collaborate with has managed completely on its own, despite the very difficult economic situation that has prevailed in the country.
TLUG has been active in Zimbabwe since 2009 with the work at the clinics outside the country. Preventive work is the cornerstone of the projects, but acute treatments are also carried out. Some cooperation has been carried out with the dental college in Harare and at the Newlands AIDS clinic, also in Harare.
Tandläkare utan gränser (Dentists without borders) traveled with the first group of volunteers in January 2009, since then there have been two groups every year. The villages we have worked in are Old Mutare and Mutambara in the eastern part of the country.
In order to achieve long-term improved oral health, the volunteer groups now work primarily through so-called "outreach" at schools. During the visits to the schools, education, preventive care and emergency treatment are given to the students. Investment is also made in toothbrush projects, which mean that the children brush their teeth every day at school.
The volunteer trips usually last for about two weeks in February and June-July.
Feel free to learn our volunteers' great travel stories from previous projects. There you will get more information and a feeling of what it is like to participate in the Tandläkare utan gränser (Dentists Without Borders) volunteer project!
Once we have visited Nyadire northeast of Harare and there are the same in terms of schools and hospitals except that there is also a teacher training college. Swedes have built up dental care within the United Methodist Church both in Harare and out in the countryside since the mid-1980s. Back then, dental care was SIDA-supported, but ever since 2003, the clinic that we collaborate with has managed entirely on its own despite the very difficult economic situation in the country.
Sources:
WHO
Adams K. Zimbabwe: an eyewitness account. BMJ; British Medical Journal.