Egyptian capital Cairo witnessed the launch of the first network of civil society organizations in the Arab countries to prevent the use of mercury dental fillings, known as “amalgam”, in treating the teeth of children under 15 years of age, and pregnant and lactating women, due to what these fillings contain, which contain a large amount of mercury, a risk to public health and the environment.

The launch of this network came at the end of the workshop, which was organized by the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, in coordination with the Arab Network for Environment and Development (“RAED”), and lasted for two days, with the participation of representatives of civil society organizations from Arab countries, both coordinators of RAED or others, in addition to a number of experts and dentists from Arab countries and others.

The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry proudly announces that its “First in Africa” Award goes to Dorah Swai of Dar es Salaam, who works for the renowned Tanzanian NGO AGENDA.   

“Tanzania is the first country in Africa to have mercury-free dentistry,” said Charlie Brown of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry in Washington. “The quite challenging multi-year campaign to set a deadline for use of toxic mercury in this great nation was engineered by Dorah Swai of the NGO ‘AGENDA.’  The World Alliance is deeply appreciative of Dorah.  We give this unique award to recognize her years of arduous service for the people and environment of Tanzania and the entire continent.”

African governments, dentists, and consumers are increasingly turning against the use of dental amalgam, the highly controversial dental fillings material that is 50% mercury.

In 2006, Dr. Myron Wentz authored A Mouth Full of Poison, a book condemning toxic mercury-based dental amalgam and calling for an end to its use.  His subsequent economic successes as founder of USANA Health Sciences have permitted him to transform this idea into action: he has fully funded the African campaign of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry for the last four years.

Scientist and philanthropist Dr. Myron Wentz announces he is funding the 2020 campaign of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry seeking to transition the great continent of Africa to mercury-free dentistry. This will be the third year he has fully funded this campaign.

Dental amalgam is a nineteenth-century, tooth-unfriendly pollutant, 50% composed of the neurotoxin mercury, whose technology has been far surpassed by affordable, effective, and available alternatives. Governments across Africa have endorsed plans to transition away from amalgam use into non-polluting, safer alternatives, but are hampered by outside lobbying  interests who profit off continued amalgam sales to Africa.