By Eriah Lule
As a teenager, Masaba Esther Loy Anyala’s teeth got misaligned. That condition landed Anyala on the dentist’s chair for an orthodontic treatment, a procedure usually carried out to correct teeth and jaws to improve both the appearance and the function.
The procedure gave Anyala not just the added self esteem she so much needed, but also the idea that it was possible to play a role in bringing the same smiles to countless people worldwide. From then on, she made a decision to pursue a career in medicine, with the hope that it would offer her the opportunity to show compassion, offer optimism and provide expert guidance.
Even though her later school life found her at a crossroads between pursuing a course in dentistry or agriculture, that one incident that gave her the opportunity to have orthodontic treatment remained etched in her mind. As a result, she found it easy to choose dentistry for the course she would pursue at the university level.
On July 5, 2024, the 24-year-old was among five students who graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at Uganda Christian University, marking the start of her journey to joining the 416 dental specialists currently practicing in Uganda.
Remarking about her journey to attain the qualification, Anyala said: “It was challenging yet deeply rewarding.”
Masaba Esther Loy Anyala during her school days
The rigors in the course, she said, tested her resilience as well as fostering lifelong friendships and helping her uncover her strengths in patient interaction. One such patient who has already benefitted from this skill that Anyala learned at UCU is a 68-year-old woman she encountered during her internship. Every medical professional in Uganda undergoes a mandatory one-year internship to hone their skills, while working under the guidance of seasoned practitioners in a government hospital. Anyala’s internship was at Mulago Hospital, Uganda’s national referral health facility.
The woman Anyala treated was suffering from Ludwig’s Angina, a bacterial infection of the soft tissues in the neck and under the tongue, often caused by dental infection.
Despite the pain the elderly woman was going through, the patient’s will to live inspired Esther, teaching her that resilience and hope can triumph even in the toughest of situations.
Esther has now honed her clinical skills and learned the relevance of a patient-centered care. She emphasizes that continuous education is vital in the ever-evolving field of dentistry. And that is why, after two years of practice, Anyala hopes to return to school to pursue a master’s degree in dentistry.
“To provide the best care, we must stay updated on advancements while refining our foundational knowledge,” she said.
Anyala’s services will be highly needed in a field where Uganda has an extremely low dentist-to-patient ratio, at about one dentist for every 100,000 people. The World Health Organization recommends a ratio of one dentist for every 7,500-8,000 people.
She is aware of the issues facing healthcare in Uganda, particularly the lack of funding that leads to understaffed hospitals and frequent drug shortages, challenges that burden her resolve.
“We can address such challenges if the government prioritized healthcare in its budget,” she argued.
In the current financial year, Uganda increased its budget for the health sector, nearly doubling the budget from USh 2.95 trillion to USh 5.87 trillion (over $1.5 billion). The increase represents about 8% of the total national budget, up from just over 4% in the previous year.
Her vision for the future includes community dental outreach and advocacy for better oral health education, especially in underserved areas.
“Dentistry is where God has called me to serve,” she emphasized, expressing her desire to bridge gaps in dental health education and provide exceptional care to her patients.
Anyala’s unwavering faith and commitment to patient care will undoubtedly inspire many and help shape the future of dental health in the country.
Anyala is a daughter of Fred and Agnes Masaba of Namisindwa district in eastern Uganda. She is the third born of the couple’s four children.
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