Global oral health efforts receive significant funding boost

The FDI World Dental Federation, of which the ADA is a long-term, active member, has announced the 2025 recipients of the World Dental Development Fund (WDDF) which each year supports between three and five projects around the world which are dedicated to promoting oral health, preventing oral diseases and strengthening care in communities with limited resources.

The three projects chosen this year are in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania, with each initiative playing pivotal roles in improving the oral health and overall wellbeing of their respective citizens.

NIGERIA

The NOMALnutrition project is an initiative in Oyo State, Nigeria, designed to integrate oral health care into existing nutrition programs. Focusing on Noma, a severe oral disease linked to malnutrition and poverty, NOMALnutrition will train nutrition officers to identify common oral conditions, distribute oral hygiene kits alongside food supplements, and collect field data using WHO tools. 

KENYA

This pilot project’s goal is to integrate preventive oral health education and care into the Chamas for Change programme in Bungoma County, Western Kenya, a rural region where nearly half the population lives in poverty and access to dental services is extremely limited. Working through 15 existing Chamas groups, the project aims to reach 300 pregnant women in their first or second trimester and their 300 young children (ages 0–3), while training 30 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to deliver oral health education and basic preventive care. 

TANZANIA

This project aims to improve oral health awareness and care among 3,000 children aged 6–14 across Mbeya, Iringa, and Tanga regions of Tanzania. Led by Miracle Corners Tanzania in partnership with local health colleges, the initiative combines school-based education, screenings, and free dental treatment for at least 600 students, while training 90 final-year dental therapist students in community outreach, leadership, and preventive care. 

By supporting these key initiatives, FDI's WDDF hopes to "to drive meaningful and lasting improvements in oral health within their communities."