Africa has taken a significant step toward addressing its severe shortage of dental professionals with the launch of the African Education Dental Association (AEDA) at a landmark symposium held in Casablanca, Morocco, on July 11–12, 2025.
The African Dental Education Symposium, hosted at Université Mohammed VI des Sciences de la Santé (UM6SS), brought together representatives from 24 countries to establish the continent’s first unified dental education body. The initiative, led by UM6SS Dean Professor Ihsane Benyayha and supported by international charity Mercy Ships, aims to foster collaboration among African dental schools and strengthen the pipeline of trained professionals.
Africa has just 0.44 dentists per 10,000 people, compared to about 7 per 10,000 in high-income countries, according to WHO data. Only 84 dental schools operate across 26 African nations, leaving millions without access to basic oral healthcare. “This symposium marks a turning point,” said Dr David Ugai, Mercy Ships’ Country Director for Guinea. “We now have the leaders in the room to change the future of dental care in Africa.” The newly formed AEDA will support joint training programmes, faculty development, and policy advocacy across the continent.
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