Oral health education in Kenya builds healthier futures for children
In the hills of West Pokot County, Kenya, a young oral health advocate is changing lives—one oral health kit at a time. Christine Semekal, a recent graduate of Mount Kenya University with a Bachelor of Science in Oral Health, is the founder and CEO of Oral Health Mashinani, a grassroots organization dedicated to promoting preventive oral health education and care in underserved communities, particularly children in rural areas in Kenya.
What began as a self-funded outreach program serving about 17 children has prospered into a registered community-based non-profit organization. Recently, they served over 1,500 children and community members during a large-scale event celebrating World Oral Health Day. Through education sessions, free dental screenings and the distribution of oral health care kits, Semekal and her team are working to improve the oral health literacy of school-aged children while fostering long-term healthy habits.
“We believe that knowledge is power,” Semekal says, “but it is equally important to equip our students with the resources they need to put that knowledge into action. That is why every child receives an oral health care kit after our sessions to help them practice what they have learned immediately.”
At the heart of Semekal’s journey are the meaningful connections to UT Health San Antonio’s School of Dentistry, where she works with three of her key mentors, including, Yvonne Buischi, DDS, PhD, professor in the department of periodontics and researcher at the Center for Global and Community Oral Health, Natalia De Campos Kajimoto, PhD, assistant professor in the department of periodontics and researcher at the Center for Global and Community Oral Health, and Peter M. Loomer, DDS, PhD, MBA, professor in the department of periodontics and researcher at the Center for Global and Community Oral Health and Center for Pain Therapeutics and Addiction Research.
Semekal met her mentors through the East Africa Oral Health (EAOH), an initiative founded by Buischi and Loomer and housed within the School of Dentistry’s Center for Global and Community Oral Health. EAOH works to improve the oral and general health of girls living in poverty across East Africa by equipping them with knowledge, leadership skills and advocacy tools. Semekal first encountered the program as a student at Daraja Academy—the first school enrolled in EAOH—and soon began volunteering at events led by Buischi, Loomer and Kajimoto.
These early experiences proved transformative for Semekal. With Buischi’s continued mentorship and guidance, she was inspired to pursue oral health studies at the university level and ultimately establish her non-profit organization, Oral Health Mashinani, focused on community impact.
“Dr. Yvonne Buischi has been an incredible mentor,” Semekal shared. “She helped me understand what it means to serve with purpose. Before we even registered Oral Health Mashinani, she was there, guiding me through each step and encouraging me to dream big for my community.”
Oral Health Mashinani is driven by a clear and compassionate mission: to increase access to preventive oral health education and care for underserved children in Kenya. By equipping young students with knowledge and the tools to practice healthy habits, the organization aims to foster a future where good oral health is not a privilege but a right. This vision closely aligns with the values of the School of Dentistry’s Center for Global and Community Oral Health, which is dedicated to advancing oral health equity through research, education and sustainable community partnerships both locally and globally.
“The ripple effect of empowering just one young woman in oral health advocacy is tremendous,” said Buischi. “Christine Semekal is not only improving oral health for children in Kenya, she is creating a culture of health and empowerment that will benefit entire communities for generations.”
With unwavering commitment, Semekal now leads a team of 15 volunteers, many with backgrounds in health care or social work. She hopes to expand Oral Health Mashinani’s outreach efforts, establish a community dental clinic and launch de-fluoridation initiatives in areas with unsafe water.
“We have seen firsthand the impact we can make,” she said. “But there is so much more we could do with additional support. We welcome partners who share our vision for a healthier, more equitable future.”
Through mentorship, global collaboration and community-led innovation, Oral Health Mashinani stands as a powerful example of what can happen when education meets opportunity, and when mentors, like those from UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry, connect with incredible leaders and health advocates around the world.
For more information and updates about Oral Health Mashinani, please check out and follow their social media:
Instagram: @oralhealth_mashinani
Facebook: Oral Health Mashinani
LinkedIn: Oral health Mashinani
LinkedIn profile for: Christine Semekal, Founder and CEO of Oral Health Mashinani
