No fewer than 1,500 residents of Bunkure Local Government Area in Kano State have benefited from a free dental outreach organized by the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mahmoud, as part of her ongoing empowerment programme.
The outreach, held at the Bunkure Primary Health Care Centre, brought relief to a community long burdened by untreated oral health challenges.
Beneficiaries received treatments including extractions, fillings, scaling, polishing, and denture repairs.
Speaking at the event, Mahmoud said the initiative extends her broader empowerment programme, which covers all 44 local government areas and 484 wards in Kano State.
“I am super elated. Many people gathered here today. Some had dentures fixed, some had extractions, and others received scaling and polishing.
“Many didn’t even know they needed to clean their teeth twice a year, and some cannot afford artificial dentures.
“That is why we brought this initiative in partnership with the Global Smile Initiative (GSI),” she said.
The minister added that beneficiaries also received dental kits—including toothbrushes and toothpaste—alongside oral health education.
“If you cannot brush three times a day, at least do it in the morning and before night,” she advised.
Mahmoud expressed hope that similar interventions could be repeated and expanded to other health areas, including ophthalmology, child nutrition, and antenatal care.
She described the programme as part of the “dividends of democracy” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
One beneficiary, Zulai Adamu, described the outreach as life-changing.
“For 10 years, I couldn’t smile or laugh because I was afraid people would laugh at me.
“Today, the Minister has restored my smile. Now I can laugh when and where necessary,” she said.
Some medical partners also lauded the outreach.
Dr Olusegun Alalade, Programme Coordinator of GSI, said the turnout was overwhelming, with more than 500 people present.
“As at the time you met us, we had attended to close to 200 beneficiaries.
“The cases varied from dentures, fillings, extractions, medications, and general consultations.
“For many people in Bunkure, this outreach is not just about dental procedures but about dignity restored,” he said.
