Department Head, Dr. Mary Willis took Missouri State University students on an education abroad adventure in Zambia.  These students won Gilman Scholarships to help fund their trip to towns in Zambia, including Chipata and Livingstone.

Mary S. Willis

June 9 – Zambia

Children on their way to the MOH hospitals for fillings or extractions. Missouri State University student Fernando Lopez Rodriguez will spend the day shadowing medical personnel.

Many of the children have permanent teeth which cannot be saved. Dental care is not accessible and most cannot afford dental hygiene materials. So thank you to all who donated! If we save a few teeth and encourage whatever hygiene is possible, it has been a good day.

Mary S. Willis

June 14 – Chipata, Zambia

Our last day in Chipata. The Zambian crew with whom we worked gifted me the key chain/Christmas ornament. They had my name and a hippo carved too because they know how much I love hippos. I will treasure it forever.

We are officially done in Chipata and headed to Lusaka, en route to Livingstone. The final count for the 2 schools, and children processed, was 552. So many teeth, but so little time! Dental health is so neglected worldwide. But since Coke and Pepsi arrived in Africa, decay is rampant. Zambia had its first dental school open in 2013 and the faculty at Copperbelt University was not complete until 2017, so there is much to be done.

The Missouri State students learned so much, and our Zambian colleagues were great teachers. Dr. James Prosper Simukonda, Buthelezi, Mathias Myz, and all others, thank you for the productive visit!

Mary S. Willis

June 17 – Livingstone, Zambia

Workdays in Livingstone, including household visits, school assessments, crocodile bites, and driving. Just over a week left. More children to the dentist next week and our final school assessment.

The students from Missouri State that had this great adventure are, in alphabetical order:  Ahmed Amjed, Sarah Elliott, Reese Lawler, Dominique Lowe, McKennzee Newton, Fernando Rodriguez Lopez, Jacob Rosecrans, and Sarah Tuck.