On the 31st August, I'll be running the Sydney Marathon to raise money for a charity very close to my heart called Smile4Ghana. The charity, founded in 2017 by three UK-based couples with Ghanian roots and dental backgrounds (one of which are my parents), is committed to delivering free dental screenings, treatments and education, as well as medical screening, to underprivileged communities in remote parts of Ghana.

Smile4Ghana was born out of the fact access to dental care in Ghana is scarce. With only 1 dentist for every 70,000 people and many not being able to afford the most basic level of dental care, some suffer for years with untreated issues such a tooth pain. Many have not had a dental examination before or screening for conditions such as mouth cancer, gum disease, or tooth decay.

Aiming to bridge this gap, Smile4Ghana runs an annual one-week outreach program, bringing a mobile dental unit and setting up temporary clinics, often in fields, to provide free treatment to hundreds of patients every day, while also promoting oral health, collaborating with local health professionals and inspiring a future generation of dentists with training. The medical team, made up of doctors, screen and educate patients on diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which contribute a significant health burden in Ghana.

What started with three couples eight years ago has now grown into a team of over 60 volunteers from all over the world, including dentists, oral surgeons, hygienists, nurses, doctors, technicians, drivers, ushers and many more. I’ve had the privilege of joining the medical team for the last two years, most recently in April when we travelled to Cape Coast in Ghana’s Western Region. It was truly special to be a part of a mission where so many people come together to achieve a common goal - to bring care to those who would otherwise go without. Seeing how deeply our work was appreciated was incredibly humbling, and the entire experience was nothing short of extraordinary.

Smile4Ghana is self-funded, meaning the founders and team pay for their own flights, accomodation, equipment and its transportation from UK to Ghana. Any contribution, no matter how small, will help this amazing cause and support all the hard work!

Watch a short video from Dr. Dappah, one of the new dentists who joined our team this year, sharing his experience of the work we do:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJQtnNPIrSz/?igsh=eXhibzg0aW9yeG45

For more information and photos, visit the official website:

smile4ghana.org

Best,

Venice