Harwood Dentist Makes a Difference in Kenya
A Harwood dentist has swapped the comfort of her treatment room in the UK for an altogether different dental experience in Kenya. Dr Magdalena Laskowska from Harwood Dental Practice visited Kenya as part of a programme organised by Smile Star.
Dr Laskowska and her fellow volunteers split their time between Samburu and Laikipia. They set up temporary clinics and provided a range of basic treatments to hundreds of local adults and children. Once they arrived and got to work, word spread quickly and soon queues had gathered outside.
Dental care is not widely available in Kenya and the ratio of dentists to patients is significantly lower than back home in the UK. For many people, this was the first time they had ever used a toothbrush, let alone seen a dentist. Tribes tend to rely on nature for medicine and use sticks from the trees to clean their teeth.
The team was made up of Magdalena, Smile Star founder Dr Mitesh Badiani and eight additional members including a dentist, dental nurses, support staff and a GP. Every individual raised money to pay for their airfare. They also took equipment from the UK to enable them to carry out procedures and supplies to hand out to their patients.
Over the course of a two week period, the Smile Star team treated more than 1,200 patients and even saved a young boy’s life. The charity operates a range of projects that target poor and remote areas.
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