UG gifts 3 dental units to Health Ministry through Greater Guyana Initiative

The University of Guyana (UG), through its Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement Office (PACE), in collaboration with the College of Medical Sciences (CMS), on Thursday, January 8, 2026, gifted three dental units to the Ministry of Health aimed at advancing community dental care and training in the country. The initiative was funded through the support of the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) Higher Education Enhancement Project. The GGI is comprised of the Stabroek block co-venturers – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana.

Through the Higher Education Enhancement Project, 10 state-of-the-art dental units were procured. Seven of the units were retained by the University of Guyana for use within its Dental Training Clinic and Laboratory, while the remaining three were gifted to the Ministry of Health for deployment within the public health system.

Delivering opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, expressed appreciation to the Greater Guyana Initiative and the Ministry of Health for their continued partnership and support to the University.

“This project is for our students and for the communities we serve, because the University acts as an intermediary between the hospital, the community and the national health system,” Professor Mohamed Martin said. She noted that UG had set itself a goal of ensuring that “at least one graduate per household” becomes a reality, while positioning the University as a centre where national challenges can be confronted and addressed.

She explained that one of the longstanding challenges facing the dentistry programme was not student interest, but capacity. “Sometimes we could only enroll six to eight dental students per academic year. Dentistry is intricate and delicate, and students require access to the right equipment to be properly trained,” she said. With the addition of the three chairs handed over and the seven received last year, the Vice-Chancellor noted that UG would now be better positioned to increase student intake. She also expressed optimism about continued collaboration with the Ministry of Health, including support towards the certification of the University’s dental laboratory.

Principal Officer within the Ministry of Health, Dr Marvin Monise, accepted the donation on behalf of the Ministry, describing it as a meaningful investment in both public health and professional development.

“We express our gratitude to the University of Guyana for this generous donation of these three dental units. This contribution is a vital investment in the health of our nation and the future of our dental profession,” Dr Monise said. He explained that the units had been earmarked for deployment in rural communities along the coast, expanding access to dental services beyond urban centres. “By placing these chairs in these areas, we are ensuring that quality oral healthcare is not a luxury of the city, but a right accessible to every Guyanese citizen, regardless of their location,” he added.

Dr Monise also emphasised that the units would support clinical training for UG’s dental surgery students. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to the programme, noting that facilities such as the recently commissioned dental simulation laboratory and the dental laboratory at the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre remain accessible to UG students.

Remarks on behalf of the College of Medical Sciences were delivered by Assistant Dean and Lecturer at CMS, Dr Andrew Hutson, who thanked both the Ministry of Health and GGI for their sustained support. He highlighted the value of a health systems approach to development. “When problems are identified, we work together to address them, and that is what has brought us here today,” Dr Hutson said.

Speaking on behalf of the Greater Guyana Initiative, Lead Alicia Bess-Anderson underscored GGI’s commitment to strengthening healthcare education and service delivery in Guyana. “Under the GGI-funded UG Higher Education and Enhancement Project, we procured ten dental chairs, a critical investment in dental education and care, seven were installed at UG’s Dental Laboratory and Clinic, launched in 2025, and today we proudly hand over the remaining three to the Ministry of Health.”

Mrs Bess-Anderson noted that the investment was already yielding results, including increased clinical training capacity and higher student enrolment. “This is more than equipment, it is an investment in building capacity and creating lasting impacts for generations to come,” she added, while reaffirming the commitment of the Stabroek Block co-venturers – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.

Head of the School of Dentistry, Dr Ruematta Overton, described the handover as a continuation of a partnership spanning two decades, noting that a dental chair is critical to a student’s education.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Emanuel Cummings echoed similar sentiments, noting that the initiative would significantly impact students’ intake and support accreditation efforts. He also encouraged further collaboration, including the future development of a residency programme within the School of Dentistry.

Representing the dental students, Le Shaun Valentine said the donation would provide invaluable hands-on exposure. “It allows us to practice in settings that closely resemble the real world,” he said.

The handover aligns with the recent commissioning of UG’s new Dental Training Clinic and Laboratory, a GGI gift that is expected to double the University’s annual dental student intake and strengthen Guyana’s capacity to produce skilled dental professionals while expanding community service and research opportunities.