HENRY SCHEIN CARES PARTNERS WITH MCW TO PROVIDE DENTAL SUPPLIES FOR TRAINING OF TANZANIAN DENTAL THERAPY STUDENTS IN PREVENTIVE SCHOOL-BASED OUTREACH
Melville, N.Y., April 21, 2015 – Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, has partnered with MCW (Miracle Corners of the World), a non-profit organization committed to global youth development, community development initiatives and oral healthcare in Africa, to increase access to oral healthcare for the underserved population in Tanzania through education and training.
Henry Schein donated masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and toothbrushes valued at more than $20,000 to support the unique educational program, which will use primary school dental outreach as a key training opportunity in community dentistry for dental therapists in Tanzania. The dental therapy training school has long recognized the importance of preventive community-based dentistry. Access to dental supplies needed for teaching the students how to set up and implement effective school-based programs is unreliable.
”Seventy percent of Tanzanians live in rural communities with little to no oral healthcare access,” said Dr. Bergman, Director of MCW Healthcare Projects. “Preventive care is key to improving oral health, particularly in resource-poor settings. Our focus is on helping the dental therapy schools train their students on how to set up school-based preventive oral health programs so they can do this effectively once they graduate and are deployed to the regions.” With the help of Henry Schein Cares, access to health care for underserved and at risk populations around the world in the areas of wellness, prevention, treatment and education, emergency preparedness and relief, and capacity building is possible.
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
About Henry Schein Cares
Henry Schein Cares stands on four pillars: engaging Team Schein Members to reach their potential, ensuring accountability by extending ethical business practices to all levels within Henry Schein, promoting environmental sustainability, and expanding access to health care for underserved and at-risk communities around the world. Health care activities supported by Henry Schein Cares focus on three main areas: advancing wellness, building capacity in the delivery of health care services, and assisting in emergency preparedness and relief.
Firmly rooted in a deep commitment to social responsibility and the concept of enlightened self-interest championed by Benjamin Franklin, the philosophy behind Henry Schein Cares is a vision of “doing well by doing good.” Through the work of Henry Schein Cares to enhance access to care for those in need, the Company believes that it is furthering its long-term success. “Helping Health Happen Blog” is a platform for health care professionals to share their volunteer experiences delivering assistance to those in need globally. To read more about how Henry Schein Cares is making a difference, please visit our blog: www.helpinghealthhappen.org.
