The collaboration between the University of Glasgow and the University of Malawi College of Medicine aims to improve oral health and access to dental care for the citizens of Malawi. Currently, there is a total of just 43 dentists to cater for 19 million citizens in Malawi so dental healthcare is an issue that sits at the forefront of one of the poorest countries in the world.
The MalDent project will house the new Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree programme that was introduced at the University in August 2019.
The new facility will provide the opportunity to create an integrated building, providing much-needed specialist clinical and teaching facilities; open-plan group clinical bays, research laboratories and minor operation theatres for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree and the people of Blantyre.
Shared Learning Resource and general teaching spaces will also be organised around a central student hub. Intended to lead the way in sustainable design, the facility will incorporate passive design principles, highly efficient systems and locally sourced materials where possible.
With a finalised report on Stage Two delivered in February 2021, progress remains underway.