During the preconstruction activity, 60 students, 6 teachers and 9 parents donated a full day to clean the land for construction of the Clinic. Their main equipment was a machete to clear the bushes and small trees. Next, a heavy machine moved in to level the land. This month there will be precise marking of foundation areas with white powdered chalk and sticks in all corners, as well as the construction of entrances for heavy equipment, temporary parking areas, bringing electricity for equipment and making arrangements for water supply.

Dr Daniel Schiavone, a dentist from Rochester, NY goes to Yantalo for a second visit!  Here is his story:

The RN technicians Veronica and Nancy in Yantalo, kept the record of patients we saw and what treatment was recommended and what treatment was delivered.  We were very busy and with the assistance of Nancy, Kaci [my daughter] and Veronica, I was able to accomplish much more than last year.  In 5 working days, we saw 270 students at the school that included and exam, fluoride varnish application and a toothbrush dispensed.  There were only a couple of students that just received an exam and toothbrush because we ran out of fluoride.  We extracted about 140 teeth.

Unfortunately, there was one extraction case on a girl approximately 21 years of age where I could only remove one tooth and half of another.  She required surgical removal of the remaining portion with an air powered drill, suction, better lighting and x-rays.  I referred her to Moyobamba for extraction of the remaining tooth.

I left all of the remaining dental supplies with Wuillman, the local coordinator for the Foundation. I gave a soccer ball to the school and I left numerous small toys with children that my office usually dispenses.

I think the most important goal for Yantalo’s dental health should be prevention through education and a fluoride program.  I was truly saddened by the amount of dental caries present in children under age 14.  It exceeds that of the United States by my observation five-fold.  I discussed the harm caused by Inca-Cola and Coca-Cola with some of the community members and they were surprised to hear theses beverages could be causing dental problems.  I left an excellent series of Spanish dental health education short videos with Percy, the bilingual teacher at the school.  I am willing to talk more about how a dental health education program can be implemented in Yantalo.  Living with pain and infection until teeth must be extracted should not be acceptable.

Kaci and I were invited to attend some type of pinning ceremony for new leaders of the student classes.  We even filled in for two students who didn’t have parents present.  The students then sang me Happy Birthday and I was presented with a gift and a birthday cake from the school.  Our trip into the jungle was enlightening. Read the rest of this entry »