MCW to Help Establish First National Dental Laboratory at MUHAS in Tanzania with In-kind Support from Dental Laboratory Companies
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, February 28, 2011 – MCW (Miracle Corners of the World) announced the arrival of a team from the United States to Tanzania’s business capital of Dar es Salaam on February 14, 2011, to oversee the weeklong installation of dental laboratory equipment as part of a second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed October 2010, between MCW and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).
The project builds on an earlier MoU, signed in September 2008, devoted to bringing MUHAS School of Dentistry and MCW together to collaborate on an oral healthcare initiative supported by in-kind donations by private sector companies. Tanzanian President H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and leadership from the Ministry of Health have supported the project from the beginning.
Dr. Paulo Sarita, former head of restorative dentistry made a compelling argument to Dr. Marion Bergman, MCW’s Director of Healthcare Projects. In a proposal submitted to MCW by the Dental School for assistance from MCW in refurbishing the laboratory Dr Sarita stated that “In 1984, it was decided to shift the dental laboratory of the Muhimbili Hospital to the Dental School. Bought in the sixties, the equipments were already old and outmoded”
Mr. William Van Vort of Henry Schein’s Zahn Dental division assisted in the unpacking of the donated equipment and laboratory supplies and installation of the equipment. The university delivered a newly painted, electrified and air-conditioned lab, outfitted with new benches built by Tanzanian craftspeople in accordance with the drawings provided by Norman Weinstock, Chairman of Zahn Dental, a division of Henry Schein, Inc, and a veteran in the dental laboratory industry. Mr Weinstock assisted MCW with its needs assessment at MUHAS.
MCW received support for the initiative from more than 30 national and international dental laboratory manufacturers and distributors. This phase of the project is valued at more than $400,000.
MCW shares the vision of MUHAS and the Ministry of Health leadership for the dental school’s laboratory to serve as Tanzania’s National Dental Laboratory and become a center of excellence for the region, and to provide dental appliances and prosthetics to all of Tanzania as well as surrounding countries.
For pictures view http://www.flickr.com/photos/miraclecorners/sets/72157626041257483/show/.
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 by giving them the tools, confidence and networks to pursue entrepreneurial projects in their communities. Based in New York, MCW serves youth through Leadership Training, Community Center and Oral Healthcare programs, and Partner Initiatives (Genocide Prevention). For more information, please visit www.miraclecorners.org.
