From 7 to 11 October, eight fourth-year students from the Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry, accompanied by Doctors Marta Satorres, deputy dean of Research, and Anna Hospital, both faculty lecturers, travelled to the Ambatondrazaka region.

During their stay, and with the aim of improving oral health and promoting healthy dental hygiene habits among the most vulnerable communities, the team from the Faculty of Dentistry carried out 500 dental extractions and 50 conservative treatments for children and their families. “Thanks to these procedures, we were able to relieve pain and improve the quality of life of the local people, who have limited access to health services, thus preventing future oral health problems,” explained Dr Marta Satorres.

The Faculty's participation in the Edugascar project not only provides dental care to those who need it most, but also contributes to the comprehensive training of future dental professionals, giving participating students a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge in a real environment, developing skills and values such as social commitment, empathy and teamwork. As the students who travelled to Madagascar pointed out, “each procedure was a challenge, but also an opportunity for learning and personal growth”. “Participating in this project has been a turning point in our life, an experience in which we have learned the true importance of empathy and humility in the practice of dentistry”, they added.

To carry out their work in Madagascar, the representatives of the Faculty of Dentistry were supported by leading companies in the sector such as Inibsa, Curaprox and Sanhigia, who donated boxes of anaesthesia, essential for carrying out procedures in optimal conditions and without pain; toothbrushes, which were distributed to the children as part of their oral hygiene training; and consumables for the treatments.

In the latest edition of the Edugascar programme, teachers and students from the Faculty were accompanied by representatives from other medical specialities, such as the team of opticians and ophthalmologists from the Barraquer Foundation.