Muskan Zindagi brings dental students and schoolchildren together for preventive oral health

HYDERABAD: Muskan Zindagi organised a Dental Health & Hygiene Camp at Mehran International School, Hyderabad, bringing dental students, volunteers and school staff together to promote preventive oral healthcare among children.

The programme, held under the leadership of Syed Kazim Raza Shah, Director – Health & Wellbeing, and in collaboration with Colgate Pakistan, combined basic dental screening with oral health education and interactive activities.

Around 160 students and 20–22 teaching staff members participated in the programme, which aimed to strengthen awareness of everyday practices that help maintain good oral health.

Dental students gain community experience

Eight fourth-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students from Isra University supported the dental screening and basic check-ups alongside Muskan Zindagi volunteers.

Their participation connected undergraduate dental education with community-based service, giving the students an opportunity to engage with schoolchildren while contributing to preventive oral health activities outside the conventional clinical setting.

The screening was accompanied by discussions on the importance of regular dental care, oral hygiene and healthy habits.

Oral health education takes centre stage

An interactive oral health and hygiene session was conducted to help students understand practical aspects of maintaining their teeth and gums.

The session focused on everyday dental care and encouraged children to develop healthier oral hygiene habits. A colouring activity was also arranged to make the learning experience more engaging for the students.

The programme combined screening with education rather than focusing solely on identifying dental concerns, placing emphasis on prevention and early development of healthy oral care practices.

Colgate provides hygiene support

Colgate Pakistan supported the initiative by providing 200 toothpaste samples for distribution among participants.

The samples complemented the educational component of the programme by providing children with practical oral hygiene support alongside the information shared during the session.

School and community partners support initiative

Zehra Malkani, Principal of Mehran International School, facilitated the visiting team and supported coordination of the programme at the school.

Areesha Khursheed, President of Muskan Zindagi, provided leadership, guidance and continued support for the initiative, while Ali Raza, Facilitator, assisted with workflow and on-ground coordination.

Dr Areej helped establish the connection with the school principal and facilitated the opportunity for the community dental programme to be conducted at the school.

Areeba Kanwal, Associate, Media & Marketing, handled media documentation, including photographs and videos of the activities.

Muskan Zindagi volunteers supported student engagement, coordination and implementation throughout the programme.

The initiative demonstrated how partnerships between community organisations, educational institutions and dental students can extend preventive oral health education into school settings, while providing future dental professionals with practical experience in community engagement.