THE Fiji National University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences has successfully completed a four-day outreach program at Nakavu Village in Namosi.
Held from August 18–22, the initiative involved 24 students from the Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Oral Health, and Certificate in Dental Assisting programs.
The students, who come from Fiji, Australia, Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tokelau, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and Kiribati were accompanied by six staff members to deliver much-needed dental services to the community such as dental extractions, fillings, oral health education and preventive treatment.
The colleges Department of Dental Public Health Pediatrics and Preventive Dentistry head Dr Vidhant Krishna Nambiar said during the outreach, students stayed with local households and took part in daily village life, giving them a deeper appreciation of rural health challenges while building graduate competencies.
“Through this program, students not only deliver essential care but also develop the professional and cultural skills needed in dentistry and oral health,” said Dr Nambiar.
“Over the course of the program, up to 200 patients were screened and treated, with highlights including the detection of potentially malignant oral lesions and the delivery of health education on environmental risk factors.”
He said while the program provided free dental services for the community, it also greatly enriched student learning, particularly in the area of public health.
