Finding purpose: From teased teen to oral health advocate

Growing up in a bustling household with three brothers in the town of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Dr Bulela Vava’s childhood was marked by a mix of camaraderie and competition. As the only woman in the house, his mother was a central figure, balancing the chaos with love and discipline. His childhood experiences would later guide him to become an oral health advocate.

“You can imagine how it was growing up in a house full of boys,” Vava reminisces. “Fights over the remote, arguments about privileges, and the competitive energy, it was intense.”

A significant childhood memory that left a lasting impact on him, was the teasing he endured due to a retained canine tooth. “My brothers used to call me ‘toothy’ because of my misaligned tooth, I hated it,” he recalls.

Finding his calling in dentistry

Little did he know that this early experience would lead him to his future career and work as a public oral health registrar in the department of community dentistry at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Initially, Vava aspired to become a medical doctor, a dream shared by many young people in Mthatha who sought to escape the cycle of poverty. However, his journey took an unexpected turn when he didn’t gain immediate entry into medical school. “I spent a year studying biological sciences but I knew I wanted more,” he explains.

Fate intervened when he was offered a place in the dentistry program at the University of Pretoria. Despite his initial reluctance and lack of knowledge about the field, he embraced the opportunity. “A friend told me I’d get a title, money and would not work the same long hours as medical doctors. I thought, ‘Sign me up!’”

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The early years of his dentistry education were challenging. “When I got into the hospital and saw what I’d be doing, I was shocked. I even wanted to quit,” Vava admits.

However, financial constraints and a scholarship tied him to the course.

“I survived dentistry. It was a long, gruelling three years,” he says, noting that his determination and resilience saw him through.

During his time at university, Vava’s passion for health equity was ignited. He became involved in a rural health club which eventually led him to a life-changing rural health conference. “For the first time, I saw what inequality looked like in the healthcare system and I was inspired by stories of people making a difference with very little,” he recalls.

Shortly after graduation in 2014, he served as a student liaison for the Rural Doctors Association, held the position of vice-president of the South African Dental Association’s Young Dentist Council and volunteered as a clinical director for Special Olympics Special Smiles.

His work received recognition from the Atlantic Institute, a UK-based nonprofit organisation that coordinates various global equity fellowship programmes. Consequently, in 2019, he, along with other distinguished leaders, became a lifelong Global Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity in South Africa.

Rural health advocate

Vava’s first placement was in the rural Eastern Cape, where he served as the sole dentist for a large population. This period was pivotal in shaping his advocacy work. “I was the only dentist for over 200 000 people,” he says.

His involvement with the Rural Doctors Association and the Rural Health Advocacy Project further fuelled his commitment to health equity.

In 2018, he founded the Public Oral Health Forum, a significant milestone in his health journey. “I was passionate about addressing the glaring inequality in oral health,” he explains.

The forum, formalised in 2020, now has over 350 members and advocates for better oral healthcare policies and practices in South Africa.

“Oral health is not a privilege for the wealthy; it is a right for everyone,” he asserts.

His efforts extend beyond oral health. He has been involved in broader healthcare advocacy, including supporting the Tobacco Control Bill and raising awareness about oral cancer. “We are making a lot of noise so that people start paying attention and investing in oral health.”

Looking ahead, Vava envisions the Public Oral Health Forum becoming a pan-African organisation, advocating for oral health equity across the continent. Our biggest goal is to get governments to take oral health seriously and make substantial investments,” he declares.

As for his future, Vava remains focused on his current mission while harbouring a modest dream: “A small holding in the Midlands sounds very attractive at this point.”

Vava’s journey from teased teenager to a leading oral health advocate is a testament a resilience, passion, and the power of collective action. “Find others like you, and don’t let the fire burn out,” he advises aspiring health equity champions. “The power of unity and collaboration is what drives real change.”