GUATEMALA DENTAL RELIEF PROJECT

~~~~Waiting Their Turn For Treatment~~~~ ~~~~~~ Local Mother and Her Baby~~~~~~

Open Letter (via email) from Project Coordinator: Laurie Mathews

Dear Danny:

Just back --- fabulous clinic.  Great volunteers, great kids, great moms and wonderful weather.  It was really hard work and I plan to sleep for a few days, but everything went smoothly and we should both feel great about our ability to reach children in remote areas of Guatemala!

In total, we treated 652 patients in 2007, produced $174,040 in dentistry (US equivalent), 659 fillings and 251 extractions. Your investment of $10,000 yielded $174,000 in dental care, not a bad return, I'm sure you and your Supporters will agree!   For $1 you got a return of $17 in care.

Our cost per child was $15 to deliver care.  I would note that our average cost per child after 6 years of working with children is $10 -- but the teeth are quite bad in Guatemala and we see way less children in a day of care as a result.  And they are all first-time visits so much more care is required.

Without this project, these children would not have received any dental care during their childhood,, as care is simply beyond reach both financially and physically for these children.

The project focuses on childhood oral health education.  Each day we hand out brushes to all the children and a local staff member from our partner organization gathers all the mothers and children for a 45 minute presentation. 

Our experience is that this sinks in a bit the first time.  When the children live pain free for 1.5 years and we then return and educate again -- it makes a huge impact and, by the third visit we have a pretty good set of brushers!

Each project hosted 4 -5 dentists, one - three hygienists and 5-7 non-medical volunteers.  Non-medical volunteers managed the patient lines, taught brushing, kept records, chairside assisted and sterilized instruments. - A typical day began at 8:30 with one dentist examining and injecting children for treatment, and three dentists providing the extractions and fillings once patients were numb.  Care was also given to the school teachers to encourage their interest in maintaining oral health.

The days were long, but full of interaction with the children and the very patient mothers who came daily with their children.  Children were called class by class, and many mothers came almost daily since they had children in most of the classes in the school.

As you know, we are partners with Behrhorst Partners for Development which has worked in 60 local villages for over 30 years.  They have a staff of 9 local people and a Board mostly based in the United States.  All our work is in the Mayan highlands of Guatemala.

Thanks to you and everyone who helped us, through Climb For A Cause, create such successful Projects!

Laurie Mathews
Guatemalan Dental Relief Project

JANUARY & JUNE 2007 DENTAL CAMPS WERE AT THE ESCUELA OFICIAL RURAL MIXTA CANTONAL

San Martin Jilotepeque, Guatemala

January 07 July 07

PATIENTS SERVED (FIGURES PRESENTED FOR BOTH SCHOOLS) 316 336

Age 1-18: 297 319 Age 19+: 19 17 Male: 148 162 Female 168 174

WORK PERFORMED

Exams: 234 194 Cleanings: 22 106 Fillings: 1 surface 291 101 2 surface 115 141 3 surface 16 15
Composite Fillings: 1 surface 19 2 surface 10 3 Surface 2 6
Extractions: Regular 25 30 Surgical 7 4 Primary 48 137 Perfect Teeth 51 15

TOTAL VALUE OF DELIVERED TREATMENT: $94,6700 $79,370

Project Costs

Equipment

Air Compressor Gas air compressor to power up to five portable dental delivery units.

$1131

Delivery Units Three Dntlworks delivery units

$3126

Headlamps Six Light-Tech headlamps and extra bulbs

$940

Cavitron Parkell cavitron with field constructed water tank

$450

Supplies

Camp Supplies From World Dental Relief charity warehouse

$1130

Anesthetic From Internet sources

$474

Hand pieces Repaired donated hand pieces

$1200

Airfare Cost for Project Director

$659

Hotel/Ground 9 Nights hotel and ground transport for Project Director
$160

Electrical Cost to construct external plug system to link directly to generator – parts and labor $466

Generator Rental Cost of rental

$264

Total Cash Expenditures……………….$10,000

Plus

In-Kind Donations

1,000 Toothbrushes

600 Amalgam

200 Anesthetic