How a Simple Passion Became a National Movement for Oral Health in Malawi

This is a further guest blog post written by Dr George Kafera, one of the first BDS graduates from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, who is currently an intern in the Dental Department at Kamuzu Central Hospital.

In August 2024, fuelled by a deep passion to improve oral health awareness among Malawians — especially those in rural and underserved communities — I created a small Facebook page dedicated to sharing simple, accessible oral health education:

My only goal was to help people understand their mouths, prevent disease, and make healthier choices.

What began as a few short videos has grown beyond anything I ever imagined.

Today, the page has 48,000 followers, and the engagement is overwhelming. Everywhere I go, ordinary Malawians — from villages, markets, hospitals, churches and bus depots — recognize me and express gratitude for the knowledge they have gained. Many tell me, “This is your calling from God,” others tell me that the videos have helped them prevent pain, avoid unnecessary tooth extractions, and seek timely dental care.

These moments remind me why I started: to make oral health knowledge accessible, free, and understandable to every person, whether educated or not.

The impact has been far beyond what I expected. There is now a clear increase in public awareness across Malawi. Here is an example of the type of short video I produce:

People tell me they are learning things they had never heard in their lives — from the dangers of self-extraction, to how to brush properly, to the truth about dental myths that have been passed down for generations.

One of my videos reached over 300,000 views, spreading across Malawi like wildfire. Although it was later accidentally deleted, it remains one of the most powerful reminders of the hunger Malawians have for oral health education.

I do all of this without any financial gain. My reward is seeing the change, hearing the testimonies, and knowing that I am contributing to a healthier nation. Helping people brings me joy. Their transformation motivates me.

Because many followers encouraged me to expand my reach, I also started a YouTube channel to reach a wider audience. It is in its infancy, but will carry the same mission: to spread knowledge, save smiles, and inspire healthier lives.

I was honoured recently to be invited by Linda Dembo, CEO of the Malawi-Scotland Partnership (MaSP), to present at the MaSP Annual General Meeting on 4th December 2025 about the impact of my oral health education platform, ‘Clean Teeth, Happy Life’. You can read my reflection here on LinkedIn.

What started as a passion has grown into a national movement. I am grateful, humbled, and inspired to continue. My dream is that one day, Malawi will be a nation where everyone understands the importance of oral health — and no one loses their teeth due to preventable diseases. This ambition maps well to the ‘Oral health for all’ strap line of The MalDent Project …

I will keep working toward that dream, one video at a time.