Seven dental therapists graduate in Liberia, marking a milestone for dental care

By Susan Akyeampong | Liberia in West Africa

Dr Simon with his seven dental practioner students.

In June 2024, just three hours outside Monrovia, seven dedicated students, beaming with pride, celebrated their graduation alongside their teacher, Dr. Simon Stretton-Downes OBE. They are: Matilda, Archie, Daniel, Charles, Ellen, Rebecca and Vestee. After two years of hard work and collaboration, they received their Dental Therapy Practitioner diplomas from Cuttington University in Liberia. This is a significant milestone, marking a life-changing step for these students as they begin their new careers and a pivotal achievement for the country.

Imagine a country of five million people with only seven dentists. This was the reality Liberia faced in 2016. The lack of dental training facilities meant poor oral hygiene often became a life-threatening issue, with people dying from problems a simple check-up could prevent. Today, this is still a concern in many parts of the country. But these students, now dental therapists, are part of a new generation poised to bridge the gap and improve oral health outcomes for Liberians.

The seven graduates owe a lot of their success to their teacher, Simon, and the school he established—the Liberia Dental Therapy School in Monrovia, the country's first institution of its kind. Simon was a dentist in Newcastle for 41 years. After learning about the dire state of dental care in Liberia, he and his wife felt compelled to help. In 2017, SIM UK sent them to professionalise the Trinity Dental Clinic, Monrovia. 

Simon is passionate about creating sustainable dental care in Liberia, wanting it to continue to thrive long after he retires next year. This commitment led him to set up a training clinic in 2019. He says, "My primary goal was to train students who could be both academically qualified and registered with the Liberian Dental Council, becoming official dental practitioners.”

Graduation day was a celebration of this collaborative effort, with students now prepared and qualified to put their skills to use at the Trinity Dental Clinic.
The clinic collaborates closely with the SIM related Evangelical Church of Liberia. The clinic’s staff support their outreach efforts in the community, creating a strong relationship from which this year's graduating students have emerged. Pastors identified students eager to learn and interested in dental care. After passing competency tests to enrol in the Liberial Dental Therapy School, they went on a two-year journey, diligently studying and working under Simon's watchful eye. While studying, they gained practical experience at the clinic, treating patients with various ailments. 

Having aced their exams, they are now the first dental therapists trained in the country, qualified to diagnose basic dental problems, educate communities on oral hygiene, and provide essential dental care.

The joy on the day was palpable—music and vuvuzelas erupted, creating a vibrant celebration outside the graduation hall. Simon and Grace joined in, with Simon thrilled and full of pride in his students. For the seven graduates, this moment is more than just a personal victory; it's a monumental leap for Liberian healthcare. Simon reflects, "this is the most fulfilling work of my career."

From this day, they become trailblazers, setting an example for future students by showing what can be achieved through hard work and faith in God. 

Prayer requests:

• Pray for the seven new dental practitioners. May they be filled with wisdom, compassion, and courage as they start their careers. 
• Pray for strength and wisdom for Simon and Grace as they continue their work in Liberia, and for a smooth and timely handover of responsibilities to Eddie - a Trinity Dental Clinic worker, currently training to be a dentist.
• Pray for James and Anna Hunter, a family from the UK who are relocating in 2025 to serve at Trinity Dental Clinic. Pray for energy as they work through the administrative tasks necessary for their move.