The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that oral diseases affect roughly 3.5 billion people around the world—that’s roughly 45% of the world’s population who struggle to maintain their oral health or access suitable dental care. These people come from all walks of life, and many struggle to access appropriate dental care.
Dr Humnah Javid, a newly qualified associate dentist at mydentist Glossop, is embarking on an incredible journey to Uganda this September, as she joins the charity Dentaid in providing essential dental care to communities in need.
With a heart for helping others and a passion for dentistry, she is excited to contribute her skills and time to make a real difference in the lives of those she will be helping.
In this blog we learn more about Humnah, her upcoming trip and what inspired her to become a dentist - plus, more on how you can get involved and support Humnah ahead of her trip!
Meet Dr Humnah Javid
From a young age, Humnah knew she wanted a career in healthcare, driven by her desire to help others and make a positive impact on their lives.
"I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare, to give back to patients and help people in my day-to-day life," Humnah shares. Dentistry stood out to her because of the hands-on nature of the work and the opportunity to form lasting relationships with her patients.
She says, “You’re there at the beginning of the patient’s journey, right down to the end. Now that I’ve started working as a dentist, I can see the impact I can make to my patients."
Humnah studied at the University of Sheffield, where she qualified in 2022. Following her foundation training in Greater Manchester, she joined mydentist Glossop as an associate dentist.
When she’s not busy working with patients, Humnah enjoys spending time with her loved ones, especially in the kitchen.
She says "I love cooking, especially for the people I love. I enjoy trying new recipes and hosting my family and friends to try what I make." With a large family and recently married, Humnah is also embracing newlywed life, having just returned from her honeymoon, she is spending a lot of her free time decorating her new home with her partner.
Working in the community and delivering urgent dental care
Humnah’s decision to work with Dentaid was inspired by her experiences during her foundation training. She saw firsthand how many people in the UK struggled to access a dentist and recognized that the problem is even more severe in other parts of the world.
"I decided that I’d use my skills to help even more people and started doing research into Dentaid. In Uganda, there are only about 320 dentists for a population of 45 million people. Many people walk miles just to see a dentist, and for some, it will be the first time in their lives."
In Uganda, Humnah and her team will set up clinics and provide emergency dental care. They’ve collected basic materials such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and fluoride varnish, which will help with oral health promotion, especially for children and young people. "The access to electricity is limited, so we've been asked to bring ready-to-use materials for emergency dental care."
Humnah explains that the high dental need in Uganda is driven in part by the availability of sugary drinks and foods, which are inexpensive and readily available. This has led to widespread dental issues, and the lack of accessible dental care only worsens the situation. "We’ll be working in communities where people are in pain or have trouble eating, speaking, or functioning. The work we do there will be life-changing for so many."
While the trip is quickly approaching, Humnah admits to feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "I’ve never done anything like this before, but I know it will be an amazing opportunity. I’m going with one of my best friends, so I feel supported and comfortable. I know that once I return, I’ll want to go again."
How to get involved
For those thinking about volunteering or fundraising, Humnah wholeheartedly recommends it: "It's such a rewarding experience. You meet so many amazing people and get support from so many avenues. If you're interested, I definitely encourage getting involved."
We love to see what inspires our clinicians. That’s why we’re blown away by the hard work of dentists like Humnah who dedicate their time to supporting communities across the UK, and even the world, by providing essential dental care outside of their working hours.
Although Humnah has reached her fundraising target of £2,000, any additional donations will still be used to support Dentaid in delivering dental care. If you’d like to offer your support, you can contribute and leave an encouraging message ahead of Humnah’s trip here.
We wish the best of luck to Humnah as she helps to bring smiles to those she helps in Uganda!