Tania smiles to others smile

When the then College of Medicine opened in 1992, Malawi took a major step towards training its own medical doctors and strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

But while it gradually expanded training in medicine and other health sciences, dentistry remained absent for decades due to limited resources, infrastructure and specialist personnel.

It was only in 2019 that Malawi introduced its first Doctor of Dental Surgery programme at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, nearly 27 years after the medical college was established.

Today, the institution also offers a diploma in dental sciences in Lilongwe as part of efforts to strengthen oral healthcare services in the country.

Still, the gap remains enormous.

Police records show Malawi registered 1 894 road accidents between January and June 2025 alone, with 411 being fatal as they claimed 464 lives while hundreds sustained serious injuries.

Studies on road traffic injuries in Malawi have also shown that facial and traumatic injuries remain a growing public health burden, particularly among pedestrians, cyclists and passengers.

Yet currently, the count

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ry is relying on a single oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. James Mchenga, to treat hundreds of patients requiring specialised care.

At Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe last week, Mchenga stood beside a visiting team of eight volunteer surgeons from the United States of America (USA) preparing to conduct free surgeries for about 50 patients suffering from facial deformities, tumors and other complex conditions.

The surgical camp was organised by Dr. Tania Nkungula, a Malawian oral and maxillofacial surgeon based in the US, who mobilised fellow specialists after learning that Malawi was relying on a single specialist to serve a population of over 20 million people.

Speaking during the exercise, Mchenga described the situation as overwhelming.

“I have about 250 patients on my waiting list, yet I only manage to operate four or five times a month. It is impossible to help everyone under these conditions,” he said.

Mchenga noted that increasing road accidents, oral cancers, facial deformities and traumatic injuries have increased demand for specialised oral and maxillofacial services in the country.

At the same time, Malawi continues struggling with limited theatre space, inadequate specialist training and shortage of equipment.

And that is the gap Tania is helping to close.