When 12-year-old Hussein Muhammad felt pain in his molar, his mother knew how to fix it. She tied a piece of string to his tooth and yanked, hard. She couldn’t afford to take him to the dentist, so instead she performed the extraction herself.
His story prompted UF sophomore Rahma Mkuu, who was born in Kenya, to collect toothbrushes to send to the country’s residents.
Muhammad is one of the millions of Kenyan residents who can’t afford adequate dental care, Mkuu said. She said a majority of the population makes less than $1 a day, making it near impossible to buy even a toothbrush.
Mkuu started the project last month and will continue to collect the toothbrushes until Dec. 7.
On Dec. 15, she will travel to Kenya and distribute the toothbrushes to children in Mombasa.
Her goal is to collect 200 toothbrushes, and so far she has 25.
She is receiving toothbrushes from Health Occupation Students of America, the Florida State Nursing School and friends.
Mkuu said she created a Facebook group that encourages students to donate as well.
When families can buy toothbrushes, they use them for multiple years, she said. While most Americans purchase more than two toothbrushes per year, most Kenyans can afford only one toothbrush every three years. Providing their families with food takes priority, she said.
Those interested in donating can contact Mkuu by e-mail at rmkuu@ufl.edu.
