Queensway Dental team returns from refugee mission

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A group of dental professionals from Queensway Dental, Billingham, has recently returned from a refugee mission in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Dentist, Dr Paul Averley was joined by his daughter, Maddie, who is hoping to follow in her father’s footsteps, and dental nurse, Jade Hand on the trip to Greece, which was organised by Dentaid. Northern Greece is currently home to thousands of refugees who have fled fighting in Syria, and the team visited camps to provide basic dental care.

During their time in Greece, the team worked with fellow volunteers to answer calls for emergency dental aid in the camps. Many of the refugees have not seen a dentist for years, and decay, infection and gum disease are widespread. Dentaid is collaborating with Health Point Foundation to coordinate volunteer projects and prioritise those who need urgent attention.

Dr Averley said that Dentaid relies on the support of volunteers and donations, and it’s really important to get behind ventures, which make a massive difference to people living in difficult conditions overseas. The trio was braced for tricky working conditions, but the experience was still a real eye-opener. The days were long, and some of the stories were heart-breaking, but it was incredibly rewarding to be part of such an important volunteer project.

Dentaid and the Health Point Foundation are constantly looking for volunteers to help out with projects such as the one supported by Paul, Jade and Maddie. If anyone is interested or inspired by the trio’s tales, they are advised to contact Dentaid directly.

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