MAHMOUD RESTORES SMILES OF 1,500 BUNKURE LG RESIDENTS

By: Austine Elemue

No fewer than 1,500 residents of Bunkure Local Government Area in Kano State have benefited from a free dental outreach championed by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, as part of her empowerment programme.

The event held at the Bunkure Primary Health Care Centre has brought relief and restored smiles to a community long burdened by untreated oral health challenges.

Speaking during the outreach, the Minister described the initiative as an extension of a broader empowerment programme that covered all 44 local government areas and 484 wards in Kano State.

According to her, “I am super elated. As you can see, so many people gathered here today. Some had dentures fixed, some had extractions, and others had scale and polishing.

“Many of them didn’t even know they needed to clean their teeth twice a year. Some cannot afford artificial dentures.

“That is why we brought this initiative in partnership with the Global Smile Initiative (GSI) here.”

She explained that beyond treatment, beneficiaries also received dental kits, including toothbrushes and toothpaste, alongside oral health education.

“If you cannot brush three times a day, at least do it in the morning and before night,” she advised.

While noting that medical outreaches are typically periodic, she expressed hope that similar interventions could be repeated and expanded.

In her words, “It could be ophthalmic next time, for those with eye problems.

It could address malnutrition in children or provide free antenatal care for pregnant women. We can go one by one. It is very doable if we have the opportunity,” describing the programme as part of the “dividend of democracy” under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.

One of the beneficiaries, who volunteered her name as Zulai Adamu, described the outreach as life-changing.

“For 10 years, I couldn’t smile or laugh because I was afraid people would laugh at me,” she said, fighting back tears. “I used to go to the hospital, but I couldn’t afford the treatment. Today, the Minister has restored my smile. Now I can laugh when and where necessary.”

Medical partners at the event also highlighted the scale and impact of the intervention.

The Programme Coordinator of the Global Smile Initiative (GSI), Dr. Olusegun Alalade, said the turnout was overwhelming, with more than 500 people present at the venue.

“As at the time you met us, we have attended to close to 200 beneficiaries,” noting that the cases varied from dentures, fillings, extractions, medications, and general consultations.

He, however, expressed satisfaction that for many people in Bunkure, the outreach was not just about dental procedures but about dignity restored.