SDI has been supporting the dental clinic in Ifakara since 1992. It is run jointly by the government and the diocese as part of St. Francis Hospital. Our main concern is preventive care in schools, as knowledge about dental and periodontal diseases is marginal among the population. However, our commitment also includes training dentists and therapists in conservative and endodontic therapies and maintaining and renewing equipment.
The dental unit in Ifakara consists of three treatment chairs, a sterilization room, a sterile storage room (which we refurbished in February 2025), and a dental laboratory. Prophylaxis lessons are held in schools and the children are examined. We want to increase the number of children examined from the current 7,000 to 20,000 or more, as hardly any children here know the cause of tooth decay.
Prophylaxis lesson at primary school
Until recently, we brought older but functional equipment with as few electronic components as possible to Africa, as it is virtually impossible to repair modern devices and chairs from different manufacturers there. Now times have changed, as transport has become very expensive and customs formalities have become complicated. In addition, older devices may be rejected if they do not meet the country’s standards.
The treatment room to be renovated
Treatment of a jaw fracture
It is better to buy from the local market, as this also gives you the option of finding a technician for servicing and repairs. In addition, the units on offer, which only work with compressed air, are very simple in design and spare parts are available. The price is low. For example, this chair with compressor, ZEG, curing light, intraoral camera, and bleaching unit costs only 3,485 Swiss francs. Transport to the destination and assembly cost 600 Swiss francs.
Chemical development is problematic in X-ray imaging due to high temperatures and poor maintenance. Only digital X-ray imaging is feasible. At the Tunduru clinic, we have been using a digital device from China for five years. It delivers excellent results.
The cost of an X-ray machine, the Vatech sensor, and the notebook amounts to 3,183 Swiss francs. This means that the entire new setup is available for around 7,300 Swiss francs, a bargain compared to prices in Switzerland! The prices are current and are unlikely to rise in the near future due to the weak dollar.
We would like to equip the clinic in Ifakara with the aforementioned simple but modern equipment in 2026. As this dental unit has been in operation for more than 30 years and is essentially self-sustaining, the investment is sustainable and will serve its purpose for many years to come.
On behalf of our colleagues in Africa, who often have to work under very difficult circumstances with the simplest of instruments and inadequate infrastructure (e.g., power outages!), we would like to express our sincere thanks for every donation. We guarantee that every franc will be invested in the dental clinic in Ifakara. All additional costs will be covered by ourselves or by SDI. What may be a small amount for us can make a big difference in Tanzania for the benefit of the local population.
Cost calculation in Tanzanian shillings and Swiss francs:
