Baraka Smiles Foundation Launches 387-million Campaign To Transform Oral Health In Kenya

The Baraka Smiles Foundation, under CEO Ruth Mungai, has announced the 1 Million Healthy Smiles Campaign, a KSh 50 billion 387 million initiative to improve oral health for disadvantaged communities across Kenya's 47 counties by 2027. Launched at Nairobis Radisson Blu Hotel, the campaign prioritizes children with disabilities, the elderly, orphans, and low-income families, addressing the often-overlooked impacts of poor oral health on nutrition, speech, and self-esteem.

Oral health is fundamental to a person's quality of life, Mungai emphasized, noting that untreated dental issues can lead to severe complications like malnutrition and oral cancer. Originally established as Smile Changers Foundation in 2014, Baraka Smiles has rebranded to tackle gaps in Kenyas healthcare system, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage UHC principles.

The foundation will roll out the campaign in 2025, starting in ten pilot counties through mobile clinics and medical camps. Early successes in Nairobi and Kiambu counties have already reached over 4,423 elderly people, 2,141 children with special needs, and approximately 590,000 schoolchildren. Training for over 1,500 teachers has also fostered dental awareness in schools.

The campaign has touched lives in profound ways, such as providing free care to Protus Wechuli, Sabotis chief, who struggled with his self-image due to dental issues. The foundations mission to restore dignity and confidence has garnered support from leaders like Reverend Julian Kyula, who championed the need for community-centered healthcare.

Through this campaign, Baraka Smiles seeks additional funding to scale up services nationwide, fostering a healthier, more inclusive Kenya.