When
Barbara Koffman first got involved with CRU, her dental hygiene
experience and education training showed her a need to promote
and facilitate the development of dental services in Uganda.
Since that time she has worked tirelessly to raise funds for
dental projects.
Click here for an update on the dental projects
These projects started on a small scale with the support of a
local dentist in Kamuli. Through the regular generosity of
a UK sponsor, the dentist is able to visit the children regularly
at Maria’s Care and surrounding villages. In addition
to this direct dental care, Barbara also runs many sessions
on the teaching of oral hygiene using a kapanga (stick toothbrush
from the Bush), along with many visual aids and songs.These limited activities have since been expanded to the
renovation of a basic dental surgery at Kamuli and expansion
of the dental health promotion work.
After much perseverance and dedication Barbara secured, through lengthy negotiation, the provision of
much needed dental surgery accommodation and access to a dentist
at a new hospital being built at Namwendwa (some 30 miles from
Kamuli). Then through her fundraising efforts and the support
of Dentaid - www.dentaid.org
- she managed to equip and furnish the accommodation
provided. The surgery was officially opened in spring 2005.
Since then, there has been a substantial donation towards dental work & after consultation with local government officials in the area it has been decided to use this money to put basic equipment in 4 rural government health clinics in Kamuli District. These clinics have no electricity, but the provision of forceps, sterilizer & local anaesthetic will be a vast improvement on the current situation. Barbara will be able to buy this equipment in Uganda which will have the added benefit of boosting the local economy.
Dental Volunteers
For photos and info. about the dental trips click on the links below:
Volunteer Trip 2005
Volunteer Trip 2006
Volunteer Trip 2007
Volunteer Trip 2008
ANSWER TO PRAYER - Barbara had been praying for a dentist to offer his/her services to work, for a short period, in Uganda. An Irish dentist, Kevin & a hygenist, Ceara, were the first to offer their services in summer 2005 to work in & around the Namwendwa clinic. They also set up a new clinic at Bugaya.
In August 2006 and again in August 2007, further parties of mainly dental professionals visited Uganda to carry out much needed dental work. They set up temporary clinics at various locations, including remote Bavuma Island. Two very successful dental trips were also undertaken in Feb & Sept 2008.
If you are a dentist, hygenist, dental nurse or dental therapist & would like to experience Uganda & give some of your time we would love to hear from you. The facilities at Namwendwa are now very good & there are also plenty of opportunities for non-clinical work in oral hygene promotion in schools & clinics.
Please contact us for details & for your volunteer application pack at info@christianreliefuganda.org.
For more information about going out to Uganda, see also our Volunteer Support section .
We look forward through your donations and support
to continue assisting where we can in developing these services
and expanding the health promotion work.
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Christian Relief Uganda 
