SMILESTAR, in partnership with Cimas Medical Aid Society, this week launched a mobile clinic to provide dental services to individuals experiencing dental problems, particularly those living in underprivileged communities.
SmileStar, a global dental charity, has initiated free dental clinics in Zimbabwe, treating patients at Chinotimba Clinic in Victoria Falls and Hwange.
The team, supported by Dentex, has provided dental care in several countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Jamaica, and Kenya.
Speaking to the Independent, the mission’s team leader, Mitesh Badiani, said this innovation allows the organisation to offer comprehensive services.
“Cimas came on board because we needed a local dentist to facilitate the acquisition of our licences. The rules differ in every country, and Cimas was very willing to assist us with this. They went a step further by providing us with a mobile clinic,” Badiani said.
“I have never worked with a programme like this before. This is the first time in 34 trips that we have used a mobile clinic. It has enabled us to provide a much better service than ever before, as we have been able to treat nearly 100 patients by restoring their teeth rather than extracting them.
“In every other country, we have only been able to offer extractions. Now, with Siemens’ help, we have expanded our services and can provide better care. They have also promised to partner with us annually when we return to offer these services.”
Badiani added that the demand for dental care services is growing. However, the cost of treatment remains a significant barrier.
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“The biggest issue we have encountered in Zimbabwe is affordability. Dental care is very expensive. We calculated that a single extraction costs US$80. If someone needs three teeth removed, that’s US$240, and people are forced to make a difficult choice: do they feed their families or endure the pain? Many are suffering,” he said.
Badiani noted that the team attends to 200 patients daily.
Tafadzwa Muguti, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Devolution, described the programme as a vital step towards addressing the healthcare challenges faced by the community.
He emphasised the importance of government support in facilitating such initiatives and stressed the need for long-term solutions to improve access to dental care.
“This is the first organisation offering services at zero cost to anyone, including our own people. I was genuinely surprised—I wasn’t even aware of this initiative. It’s almost like a mobile clinic, but it highlights the need to address the affordability of dental care within our healthcare systems. From our perspective, having governmental support is crucial.”
Alan Gura, head of dental clinics at Cimas Medical Aid Society, explained that instead of merely offering logistical support, they decided to take a more hands-on approach.
“We were approached through our board about an organisation wanting to conduct an outreach programme aimed at performing as many extractions as possible during their two-week visit.
“Rather than just assisting with the necessary processes, we thought of partnering more meaningfully by providing a fully functional mobile clinic—essentially a properly equipped dental clinic that we could bring directly to the people. This initiative has been successful, offering access to a full dental clinic for those who have never seen a dentist,” he said.
