Creating Lasting Smiles: Aghbar, Morocco

Rebuilding Health in the High Atlas Mountains
Two years after the devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Al-Haouz and Taroudant provinces, the road to recovery remains challenging. The Aghbar commune—a remote community of 5,600 people living 2,094m above sea level—remains isolated, with infrastructure heavily damaged.
While physical rebuilding is underway, the “invisible” health crisis is growing. MERCY Humanitarian UK (MHUK) has launched “Creating Lasting Smiles,” a transformative 3-year mission to build a sustainable oral health solution for this forgotten community.
MHUK Team in Morocco

Dental Screening in Aghbar

The Silent Crisis: A State of Neglect

Following a needs assessment in February 2025, we found the oral health of the Aghbar commune in a state of significant neglect.
  • No Access: Very few villagers have ever seen a qualified dentist in their lifetime.
  • Dangerous Alternatives: Reliance on “fake dentists” (bogus practitioners) is common, leading to unsafe procedures.
  • High Disease Rates: DMFT scores indicate very poor health in both adults and children, with prevalent gum disease.
  • Hygiene Poverty: Toothpaste is considered a “luxury item” that many families cannot afford.

Our Strategic Solution: The 3-Pillar Model

To ensure we don’t just treat patients but cure the system, we are implementing a sustainable model:

3 Pillar Sustainability Model

1. Direct Clinical Care

A “Hub and Spoke” model: A static clinic next to the healthcare centre, supported by mobile outreach clinics to 18 remote villages.

2. Capacity Building

Training local members to be self-reliant and improving oral health literacy to stop preventable diseases before they start.

3. Community Enterprise

Developing a local toothpaste production project using readily available ingredients. This turns a “luxury” item into an accessible necessity and creates economic activity.

Help Us Build Lasting Smiles

We have a 3-year roadmap to transform oral health in Aghbar. While the total project goal is £70,800, we are raising funds one mission at a time. Every donation helps us unlock the next stage of care.
Programme Costing Chart
Where your money goes:

  • Give a Small Gift: A donation of £20-£50 provides dental kits, toothpaste, and pain relief for children who have never owned a toothbrush.
  • Sponsor a Day (£500): Covers the operational logistics to keep our mobile clinic running for one full day in a remote village.
  • Sponsor a Mission (£6,200): Fully funds a 12-day deployment for our 10-person medical team.
  • The Foundation (£15,000): Helps us cover the one-off setup costs for the portable mobile clinic units.
Donate to this Campaign
Dr Naseem Ghazali
Led by Dr. Naseem Ghazali
Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon and MHUK Trustee.
Supported by a 10-member clinical team deployed every 4 months, comprising dentists, nurses, and technicians.