Mount Kigali University continues its community health education drive in partnership with other institutions. The latest initiative is the April 25 promotion of oral hygiene and health among primary and secondary school learners. The university’s medical centre and its School of Health Sciences teamed up with Total Blooming Life and Chemicotex to inform young people how to maintain their oral health. The campaign, themed, “Akanwa Kange, Ishema Ryange” (My Mouth, My Pride), took place at GS Ndera. Hundreds of learners and their teachers attended. They received free dental check-ups, oral hygiene kits, and practical lessons on proper teeth brushing and dental care. The University Medical Centre’s Director, Dr Monica Mochama, stressed the importance of oral health, often neglected despite its impact on general well-being. “Oral health is often overlooked, yet it’s a critical part of our overall health. Through this campaign, we want to empower young people to take pride in maintaining a healthy mouth,” she said. Mochama revealed that Mount Kigali University introduced Dental Therapy and Dental Technology programmes to specifically address the country’s growing need for skilled oral health practitioners. The university’s students who are specialising in Dental Therapy and Dental Technology were part of the health outreach team. Dr Alphonsine Mukandoli, a leading dental surgeon and CEO of Total Blooming Health, emphasised the critical role of partnerships in advancing public health initiatives. “Working with educational institutions like Mount Kigali University enables us to create lasting change in communities by reaching children and teaching lifelong habits,” said Mukandoli, who is also the founder of Rehoboth Dental Clinic. Addressing the specific focus on oral health, she stated, “The mouth is the mirror of the body, and there is no health without oral health.” Mukandoli emphasised that promoting oral hygiene from an early age is key to preventing many systemic health issues later in life. GS Ndera’s headmaster, Pascal Sindahabo, praised the initiative. He said: “We are deeply honoured to host such an important initiative. Good health practices learned today will stay with our students for a lifetime. We thank Mount Kigali University, Total Blooming Life, and all sponsors for choosing our school as the venue for the outreach.” Mount Kigali University supports Rwanda’s 4×4 strategy to quadruple the number of health workers and meet the World Health Organization’s threshold by offering Bachelor of Science programmes in Dental Therapy and Dental Technology. Other programmes include Nursing, Public Health, and Medical Laboratory Sciences.
