Building Autonomy Through Training

Investing in local healthcare professionals is an important cornerstone of long-term impact, and Mercy Ships’ work in Guinea illustrates this perfectly. Through the establishment of the Dental Training and Care Centre (Centre de Formation et de Soins odontologiques), developed in close partnership with UGANC, Mercy Ships trains dental students by incorporating practical clinical experience into their studies—an element that was absent from the curriculum only a few years ago.

Far more than a dental clinic, the centre is equipped with simulators, training mannequins for practical exercises, a laboratory for the manufacture of prostheses, and much more. In addition, a simulation centre dedicated this time to the entire Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology (FSTS) is currently under construction and will open on campus at the end of the year, significantly increasing capacity for patient care, clinical practice and training across all existing medical specialties.

Ana Filipa Coelho, a dentist and Mercy Ships Programme Officer in Guinea, applies her expertise across multiple areas: teaching, mentoring, providing dental care, and coordinating visits from international partners and specialists who travel to the training centre in Conakry to contribute to student education. Having met Pierrette Chenevard during a course in Cully (VD, Switzerland), she was inspired to invite her to Guinea to deliver this training programme on educational techniques.

Beyond the pedagogical tools that were shared, the training was also a deeply human experience. In an atmosphere of listening, respect and mutual encouragement—illustrated by activities such as the positive gossip exercise—participants were invited to reflect on their role as educators and on how best to guide their students towards greater autonomy and responsibility.

Before the end of the visit, David Ugai, Mercy Ships Country Director in Guinea, invited Pierrette Chenevard to return later in the year. Accompanied by experts from other fields, including aviation, infectious diseases and history, she will introduce an interdisciplinary approach that enables participants to step outside their professional practice while engaging in shared reflection. Moved by the commitment, support and warm welcome of David, Ana Filipa, Raphaël and their inspiring team, Pierrette reflected: “I experienced an extraordinary moment of humanity. It is for all these people that I want to come back.”