Global Health and Dentistry faculty from the University of Washington have joined forces with the University of Nairobi in an ambitious effort to combat the oral consequences of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among Kenya’s children.

“I’m very excited. This is the first time they’ve included oral health in these discussions [of Kenya’s HIV challenges],” said Dr. Ana Lucia Seminario of the UW’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry. She traveled to Kenya in January to review recent HIV research, help train oral health professionals, and refine the project's plans for 2016. 

The project's leaders believe that even a modest number of newly trained practitioners can make significant inroads; as few as 10 can screen and treat as many as 4,000 children a year.