No fewer than 1,500 residents of Bunkure Local Government Area in Kano State have benefited from a free dental outreach organised by the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mahmoud, under her ongoing empowerment programme.
The outreach, held at the Bunkure Primary Health Care Centre, provided relief to residents who have long struggled with untreated oral health conditions.
Beneficiaries received various dental services, including tooth extractions, fillings, scaling, polishing and denture repairs.
Speaking at the event, Mahmoud said the outreach was part of her broader empowerment initiative, which spans the 44 local government areas and 484 wards across Kano State.
She expressed delight at the large turnout, noting that many beneficiaries were unaware of basic oral hygiene practices or could not afford dental care.
“Some had dentures fixed, others had extractions, while many benefitted from scaling and polishing. Many people do not know they are supposed to clean their teeth at least twice a year, and some cannot afford artificial dentures.
“That is why we brought this initiative in partnership with the Global Smile Initiative (GSI),” she said.
The minister added that beneficiaries were also given dental kits, including toothbrushes and toothpaste, along with oral health education.
She advised residents to brush their teeth at least twice daily, preferably in the morning and before bedtime.
Mahmoud expressed optimism that similar interventions would be extended to other health areas such as ophthalmology, child nutrition and antenatal care, describing the programme as part of the dividends of democracy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
One of the beneficiaries, Zulai Adamu, described the outreach as life-changing, saying she had been unable to smile for 10 years due to dental issues.
“Today, my smile has been restored. I can now laugh freely without fear,” she said.
Medical partners involved in the outreach also commended the initiative.
Dr Olusegun Alalade, Programme Coordinator of GSI, said the turnout was overwhelming, with hundreds of residents seeking care.
He said beneficiaries received a wide range of services, including dentures, fillings, extractions, medications and general consultations, noting that the outreach went beyond dental care to restoring confidence and dignity among residents.