Port Glasgow Dentist Visits Greek Refugee Camps to Help Those Who Have Fled Syria
A dentist from Port Glasgow offered her time and skills to help Syrian refugees living in camps in Greece.
Debbie Coyle was part of a team of volunteers who visited Greece as part of a project run by Dentaid. During her time in the refugee camps, Debbie worked to provide basic dental care and the team also handed out toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste, which were kindly donated by dental practices in the Inverclyde area.
The team were based in a shipping container, which they turned into a makeshift dental clinic. The team spent the first couple of days removing teeth from patients who had come to them in severe pain. Cases were prioritised and the team worked as quickly as possible to treat as many people as they could.
Debbie also spent time talking to people about oral health and providing them with tips and information that should help them to reduce the risk of dental problems in the future. Many of the children had early signs of decay and the team was keen to try and prevent further development.
The experience was not all about tending to patients’ dental needs. Debbie was also keen to learn more about the people she met and spent hours chatting to people, communicating through a translator.
Debbie said the experience was challenging as the conditions were very poor and people had dreadful tales to share, but she said it was also rewarding.
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