By John Semakula

Uganda Christian University (UCU) has acquired state-of-the-art dental equipment worth sh1.46bn ($397,855) to boost the training of students at its dentistry school in Mengo.

On February 18, University top management received equipment that included 10 dental suites, phantom heads, LED dental lights, a separator tank assembly, a powervac P7 base, powerair oil-less compressors and a Midmark M3 Steam Sterilizer, 230V.

Speaking at the function on the UCU main campus in Mukono, the University’s Vice-Chancellor Associate Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, revealed that five of the 10 dental suites were donated to the University by MidMark, a US-based manufacturer of medical and dental tools while the University bought the other five from China.

The donation from Midmark was worth over sh520m ($141,722).

“We are now getting to where UCU should be,” said Assoc. Prof. Mushengyezi. “We want UCU to set the pace in the training of a wholesome individual. From today bring your children to study dentistry at UCU because they will get the best training.”

Mushengyezi added that with the newly acquired equipment, UCU is now compliant with the set standards of the East African Community (EAC) Partner States National Medical and Dental Practitioner’s Council to run a full-fledged dentistry school.   

In 2020, UCU suffered a serious setback when the Council ordered it to stop admitting students into the School until after fulfilling certain infrastructural gaps including the purchase of certain equipment.

Although the Council would later lift the ban on admitting students to the UCU School of Dentistry late last year after UCU made certain improvements, the University continued to rapidly acquire more dental and medical equipment.

Dr. John Kitayimbwa, the University’s deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, noted that UCU is working very hard to ensure that it sends to the job market well trained Christian medical and dental practitioners to transform the two professions.

Kitayimbwa added that with the new dental suites, the ratio of students to the training equipment at the UCU Dentistry School is almost 1:1, which is an assurance of quality education to the leaners. 

He commended Midmark for donating the equipment and Uganda Partners in the US for ensuring that the donated equipment was delivered to the University. The donated equipment from the US was delivered free of charge to UCU courtesy of a shipping offer by MedShare another shipping company also based in the US. 

The Dean of the UCU School of Dentistry, Dr. James Magara, described the donation from Midmark as generous, critical and foundational in setting up a dental training lab.

“It’s very expensive to train a doctor,” he said. “If the purchase of the equipment had been left to us, we would not have been able to achieve it.”

Mushengyezi disclosed that part of the equipment in the container, which Midmark donated will be given to two Church of Uganda hospitals – Mengo and Namirembe in Mukono – as well as Mukono General Hospital (government owned). He said the hospitals are key partners of UCU in the training of the medical and dentistry students.

+++

To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities and services, go to www.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.

Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram

The post UCU School of Dentistry acquires nearly $400,000 in modern training equipment appeared first on Uganda Christian University Partners.