Uche Cecil Izuora
More than 100 traders and residents of New Gbagi Market, Ibadan, received free dental consultations, preventive oral healthcare and basic medical screenings as SIFAX Group 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 outreach, held on July 25 under the Committee on Dental Education and Health (CODEH), saw 101 participants undergo comprehensive dental consultations after an initial registration of about 130 people. 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.
The initiative forms part of SIFAX Group’s commitment to supporting community health interventions and expanding access to quality healthcare services for underserved populations.
Speaking 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.
“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% 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.
Following an extensive awareness campaign across the market, participants were registered and screened before proceeding to consultation stations, where dental students conducted oral examinations under professional supervision. Patients received oral hygiene counselling, referrals for further care where necessary and complimentary toothpaste.
A major highlight of the programme was an interactive oral health education session delivered in both English and Yoruba by a final-year dental student. The session featured practical demonstrations of proper tooth-brushing techniques and addressed participants’ questions on maintaining good oral hygiene.
The scaling and polishing procedures were carried out by final-year dental students under the supervision of six qualified dentists, with strict compliance with infection prevention and patient safety protocols. According to the organisers, all patients expressed satisfaction with the services received.
At the end of the outreach, traders and market leaders commended SIFAX Group and the student organisers for bringing free oral healthcare to their community, describing the intervention as timely and impactful.
UADS also expressed appreciation to SIFAX Group for its sponsorship, noting that the company’s support made it possible to deliver free dental consultations, preventive care and health education to underserved residents. The association said it looks forward to partnering with the company again for a second mega outreach scheduled for Aleshinloye Market in September as efforts continue to promote oral health awareness beyond the traditional clinical setting.