A team of 13 volunteers is ready to “take over” the responsibility of Oral Care in Uvinza for 10 days from November 30th thru December 11th 2018.
Owos has signed a partnership agreement with Sophia Antipolis Nice University in France, to work together towards the improvement of oral health in the poorest area of Tanzania.
In a country with over 50 million people where more than 27 million have no access to oral care, and after an amazing action a few months ago in Kigoma followed by long talks with the local authorities, Owos has committed to focus in that region for the rest of 2018, due to the immense needs, and the emergency of the situation.
Our team has visited the area during the past weeks to study the best way to approach this camp and be as efficient as possible.
The partnership with Nice University will allow our team to have for the first time 4 Dental Students help as auxiliary staff which will help improve considerably the efficiency of the team. Each Student or Junior practitioner will be overseen by a Senior Dentist to maintain the demanding top level by Owos ´standards.
Accommodation for the team will have to be improvised in tents to remain close to the area where the camp will be set and waste the least amount of time possible with transport.
Links:
One World One Smile organized from May 4-14th an amazing humanitarian action in Tanzania, bringing relief to 607 patients living in rural Kigoma, one of the most deprived regions in the country.
The OWOS team was composed of six dentists, 2 Tanzanian, 2 French, 1 Spaniard, 1 Indian who had support of 6 other volunteers as support staff from Tanzania, France, Germany and the UK. Many other young students and staff members from the Ahlulbayt Seminary were present during the whole event, giving our team huge logistical support throughout the campaign. This allowed us to provide dental treatment services, in a well-organized, calm and secure environment to the numerous patients who responded to our call.
Output: Dental Treatments Provided
Our treating Doctors did interventions on 294 patients out of the 607 screened. Some of the screened patients had minor or no issues.
One was diagnosed with a Carcinoma (oral cancer) and referred to Kigoma hospital for further treatment, and one Had a benign tumor which was removed in situ, and the patient was allowed to go back home.
Most of the patients that were treated described having had pain for over a year time. Also, we ran into more than usual hygiene problems and patients complained about not being given tooth paste.
Statistics of treatments provided:
Total Patients screened: 607- None were left unattended on the last day
Total patients treated: 294
Total extractions performed: 535 (average 1,82 extractions/patient)
Very interesting partnerships were developped with amazing people living locally that allow us to believe that our december action will be the best yet.
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