What We Do
Our DVP Experience
Dentist Liz Stringer closed her Knebworth practice while she went out on the February 2008 DVP with her two nurses - Su Mills and Tracey Evans. Here she tells of their experience:
"Having started the planning of this trip more than a year ago, I must admit that, as we set out for Heathrow Airport on that Saturday morning, I was more than a little anxious. I have never been away from the family on my own for more than a few days and so this was definitely a big step into the unknown. My fears, however, were quickly dispelled. Our team, comprising fourteen dentists and eight nurses, rapidly became close friends, with whom we shared amazing experiences, some of them extremely emotional. Far from being depressing, it was a truly uplifting and rewarding time.
Arriving in Dar es Salaam on the ten hour flight from London, we spent the day at a hotel before flying up to Mwanza (on Lake Victoria) that evening. We were greeted by our hosts, Bridge2Aid directors Ian Wilson, Jo and Mark Topley, and taken to our hotel in the town. The following morning they led a comprehensive local orientation session and, in the afternoon, we visited the Regional Hospital in the town which caters for a mere 13 million people! An interesting feature was the coffin-making business, which had been set up in the car park.
As you can imagine, there were large numbers of people waiting patiently to be seen. We were introduced to the Regional Dental Officer, who is employed by the Tanzanian Government and works with Bridge2Aid to coordinate the training of the Clinical Officers we were soon to meet. We also visited the Hope Dental Clinic where Ian Wilson works as a dentist. A whole range of patients is seen at the Clinic, including many expat foreigners who work in Mwanza. The money raised here pays the Bridge2Aid staff wages and enables free treatment to be offered to the poor.
The following day we set off very early from Mwanza and arrived two hours (and one puncture) later at the first of two medical centres in which we were to work. Both buildings were extremely basic, with no electricity or running water, and, because news travels fast, there were usually about a hundred people waiting to be seen by ‘the English dentists’. Unfortunately, the local witch doctor had also become aware of our imminent arrival and, only the previous day, had carried out some DIY dental treatment of his own, which resulted in the death of the patient. During our visit he was arrested and is now in jail, awaiting trial, which could take seven years.
The Clinical Officers were introduced to us and we were relieved to find that they spoke good English and were keen to learn all they could from us. They had all received three years’ medical training to diploma standard and were already working in rural dispensaries, providing a basic level of medical care, including delivering babies and treating trauma. They had spent the previous three days learning basic dental anatomy and other related subjects. Over the next six working days we were amazed at their progress. Although the work was hard, with long days in hot conditions, it was satisfying to know that twelve more people will be carrying on our work, now that we have returned to the UK.
My lasting memories will be of our stoic Tanzanian patients who arrived every day and would sit patiently in the heat with their beautiful babies, never once complaining. Many of them had travelled for days to see us, having endured toothache for years. They wore their best clothes and were always polite and grateful. Somehow the lack of electricity and running water did not seem such an enormous problem and we were constantly humbled by the Tanzanians’ ability to cope in adversity. There were lots of interesting characters, including one elderly gentlemen, who, after being numbed up and asked to take a seat, was never seen again. Apparently this is quite a common occurrence; the pain having disappeared, the patients think they are cured.
I cannot finish this account without paying tribute to four very special people: Dentist Ian Wilson and his wife Andie and their friends Mark and Jo Topley who set up the Bridge2Aid charity and left their family and friends to live in Tanzania to make their vision a reality.
Before anyone asks… Yes, all three of us have already booked to go again next year!"
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