Dental Nurse Visits Pakistan As Part Of Overseas Plastic Surgery Appeal
A dental nurse from Hull has joined a team of medical experts to visit Pakistan as part of the Overseas Plastic Surgery Appeal.
Tracey Wiles, a dental nurse from Highlands Health Centre, joined breast surgery expert, Dr Penny McManus and Dr Nick Hart, to help Hull-based charity, the Overseas Plastic Surgery Appeal.
The group visited a hospital in Gujarat, which was funded by the Japanese Government. During the team’s stay in Pakistan, Dr Hart carried out a series of cleft lip and palate procedures and lectured at the university, Dr McManus operated on woman in her 40’s who was suffering from breast cancer and lectured at the university and Ms Wiles went out to talk to people about oral hygiene and oral health issues.
Dr Hart said that the situation is very different in Pakistan; there is no NHS system in place and many people have difficulty accessing even the most basic health services. Dr Hart said that most parents simply do not have the money to pay for treatment for children with a cleft lip and palate and volunteers are their only hope.
Dr McManus, a leading breast surgeon, said that breast cancer is a real problem in Pakistan; treatment is not as advanced as in the UK, women are afraid to expose their breasts in front of male doctors and the survival rate is low; in England there are 50,000 cases every year but only 1,200 deaths, while in Pakistan there are 90,000 cases and 50,000 deaths per year.
Tracey Wiles spent time observing cleft lip and palate surgery and also took time to speak to children about oral hygiene; she also gave out toothpaste and toothbrush packs and showed children how to brush their teeth properly.
The team visited the hospital in February and they are hoping to return towards the end of the year.
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