Casablanca, Morocco – In a historic step for dental healthcare across the continent, 24 African nations gathered in Casablanca for the inaugural African Dental Education Symposium, hosted at Université Mohammed VI des Sciences de la Santé (UM6SS). The landmark event, held on July 11–12, marked the official launch of the African Education Dental Association (AEDA) , the first of its kind on the continent.
The symposium, initiated by Professor Ihsane Benyayha, Dean of the UM6SS Dental School, and supported by global surgical charity Mercy Ships, brought together deans and directors from African dental schools to strategize on improving dental education, research, and healthcare delivery. The goal: to address the severe shortage of dentists and build a sustainable education system tailored to Africa’s needs.
According to the World Health Organization, Africa averages just 0.44 dentists per 10,000 people, compared to about 7 per 10,000 in many high-income countries. With only 84 dental schools across 26 countries, this gap leaves nearly 42% of Africa’s population with untreated oral diseases.
“Why not an African Education Dental Association?” asked Professor Benyayha. “We, as African professionals, can do so much more for our countries if we work together.”
Mercy Ships’ Dr. David Ugai, Country Director for Guinea, added, “It should no longer be acceptable for any country to have one dentist per 1 million people. Now is the time to solve this issue — and all the stakeholders are in this room.”
The newly formed AEDA aims to serve as a continental platform for collaboration, best-practice sharing, and curriculum standardization, modeled after similar associations in the U.S. and Europe.
Professor Mohamed Siddick Fadiga, Head of the Dental School at Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry in Guinea, called it “a necessity,” emphasizing that African schools “can now speak with one voice.”
The event featured support from international stakeholders such as the FDI World Dental Federation, the American Dental Education Association, and the Association for Dental Education in Europe.
Long-Term Impact Across Africa
Mercy Ships’ commitment to dental education extends beyond Morocco:
- In Guinea, it has doubled the training capacity of UGANC’s dental school.
- In Senegal, expansion plans will grow Université Cheikh Anta Diop’s clinical capacity from 30 to over 70 chairs.
- In Togo, the charity is building the first simulation and clinical training center at the University of Lomé.
- In Benin, training is underway to reopen the country’s only dental school, closed since 2018.
- In Madagascar, Mercy Ships is sponsoring future professors for specialization abroad.
- In Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Liberia, an exchange program through UGANC is expanding workforce access.
“This partnership gives us hope,” said Professor Jeannot Randrianarivony, Dean of the University of Mahajanga Dental School in Madagascar. “Our graduates will now return as the next generation of educators.”
The African Dental Education Symposium represents a turning point in healthcare collaboration, echoing Mercy Ships’ broader mission to strengthen surgical care, education, and training throughout Africa.