MCW Commences Training for 112 Oral Health Care Professionals in Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MCW announced today the beginning of on-site training for 112 oral health care professionals at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) School of Dentistry in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The three-week training program includes the installation of dental equipment, practice management software and digital X-ray and the training of the dental school staff on the use and management of the new equipment and programs.

As a first step, the team will install computers pre-loaded with Dentrix® Enterprise, along with computer mounts, servers and digital X-ray equipment. Then, the team will train more than 100 staff members, including faculty, clinicians, administrators and information technology experts and support staff to use the equipment and programs.

The training and installation will be led by five U.S.-based professionals from Henry Schein, Inc., the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners.  Henry Schein Cares, Henry Schein Inc.'s global corporate social responsibility program, is the principle donor of Dentrix Enterprise and related technical support, as well as the computers and digital X-ray equipment. Additional project donors include KaVo Kerr, Sirona, Air Techniques and Everlast Logistics.

"Training Tanzanian oral care professionals in this state-of-the-art technology is an exciting step in MCW's efforts to improve the overall state of oral health in Tanzania," said Dr. Marion Bergman, Director of MCW's Health Care Projects. "This phase of the project focuses on bringing a state-of-the-art dental IT system to MUHAS School of Dentistry and paves the way for tele-dentistry in Tanzania and beyond."  

Valued at more than $500,000, the donation of equipment, installation and training represents the third phase of a capacity building project that began in 2008, when MCW and the MUHAS School of Dentistry signed their first memorandum of understanding dedicated to upgrading the school's dental clinics.

ABOUT MCW

MCW (Miracle Corners of the World) is a non-profit organization founded in 1999 with the vision "Local Change through Global Exchange®." Our mission is to empower youth to become positive agents of change in their communities. Based in New York, with partner organizations in Africa (i.e., Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia), MCW offers the following programs: Global Youth Development, Community Development and Oral Health Care, as well as Partner Initiatives (e.g. Pediatric AIDS Treatment for Africa). MCW's core values include integrity, compassion, accountability, responsibility and excellence. www.mcwglobal.org 

SOURCE MCW