Last month, about 100 children in Haiti got dental checkups, 68 got extractions, 13 had fillings and one had surgery, thanks to a collaboration between two Virgin Islands service groups.
Hands on Volunteers and the Rotary Club of Road Town worked together to facilitate a visit by a dentist and her assistant as part of a new initiative the organisations are calling Dental Health Across Borders.
Joanne Penney, an HOV volunteer, explained the project during a May 8 Rotary meeting at The Moorings.
The initiative began when VI dentist Dr. Annelene Clausen, a Rotarian, showed interest in doing some dental work with children in Haiti. Due to commitments at work, the dentist was unable to go herself last month, but she enlisted the help of her club, which donated a dental kit and materials for the mission, Dr. Clausen explained.
Then she contacted a colleague from Denmark, Dr. Ann Marie Dabelsteen, who travelled to Haiti to work with the children.
Among the beneficiaries of the project were residents of the Harmony House, a children’s home managed by HOV.
See the May 17, 2012 edition for full coverage.
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