The idea to donate a Smile Mobile to help underserved areas in Africa started with Dr. Ambrose Obade, a dentist at Four Rivers Community Health Center. The unit has been given to ProHealth International Africa. From left, Dr. Curtis High, PHI board member, Obade and Four Rivers CEO Stuart Gipson.
Dr. Ambrose Obade
The idea to donate a Smile Mobile to help underserved areas in Africa started with Dr. Ambrose Obade, a dentist at Four Rivers Community Health Center. The unit has been given to ProHealth International Africa. From left, Dr. Curtis High, PHI board member, Obade and Four Rivers CEO Stuart Gipson.
A local dentist with a passion for helping others recently had an idea to donate a mobile dental unit to an international organization to benefit underserved areas in Africa.
“The idea to have the Smile Mobile donated to ProHealth International (PHI) Africa started in
2022 when Stuart Gipson, Four Rivers Community Health Center Chief Executive Officer,
mentioned that an order had been placed for a new smile mobile,” said Dr. Ambrose Obade, a dentist at Four Rivers in Rolla. “I gave a brief history of PHI and what they do around Africa in terms of humanitarian services and stated the need for a mobile dental unit, which had been non-existent until this opportunity arose.
“I also mentioned how it would benefit the people in rural parts with no access to dentistry,” Obade continued. “Stuart gave the green light to have it sent to PHI in Nigeria for the benefits of the teeming underserved population.”
On Aug. 6, during National Health Center Week, Four Rivers Community Health Center’s old Smile Mobile left Rolla and headed to the Port of Baltimore where it was shipped off on a new mission to help the Nigerian people in Africa, Obade said.
Before relocating to the United States, Obade lived in Africa and had volunteered part time on medical and dental missions with PHI for about a year, he said.
“During this period, I met with the founder, Dr. Iko Ibanga, and Dr. Curtis High, who is a board member of PHI,” Obade said. “Their dedication and sacrifice for humanity inspired me to serve as a fulltime volunteer for almost four years, doing dentistry in rural parts of Africa until I relocated to the United States to build capacity by going back to dental school. This desire to help the underserved is what makes my employment with Four Rivers a great match. PHI through the contribution of volunteers and donors are responsible for shipping the Smile
Mobile to Nigeria.”
Four Rivers Community Health Center is in Rolla, St. Robert and Salem. The center provides dental, medical, including pediatrics, and behavioral health services.
“This was all made possible by the very generous heart of one of our very own dentists, Dr. Ambrose Obade,” said Hannah Vehrs, marketing director for Four Rivers. "Dr. Obade is a blessing not only to Four Rivers and our communities but across the globe, too.”
Four Rivers is dedicated to meeting the needs of the communities it serves by offering essential services and resources, she added.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
