Weymouth Dental Student to Volunteer in Sri Lanka
A dental student from Weymouth is preparing to travel to Sri Lanka this summer as part of a volunteer project to help people suffering from advanced dental diseases.
Camilla Llewelyn, a third year student at Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry in Plymouth, will spend three weeks of her summer holidays assisting dentists out in Sri Lanka. She is hoping to gain valuable experience for her own studies as well as providing relief for adults and children in pain.
As part of her fundraising for the trip, Camilla has written to local businesses and dental practices to ask for financial support towards the cost of flights and expenses. She is hosting a tea party at Chickerell Primary Academy on July 2nd and all proceeds will go towards the trip.
Camilla said that she is aware the conditions will be very different and is prepared for shocks and hard work. The hospital where she will be based has a maxillofacial department and Camilla is looking forward to making a positive difference to children who have been affected by problems such as cleft lip and palate. In the UK, treatment is provided very early on, but in Sri Lanka, many children have to wait for surgery for years and there is a stigma attached to this condition.
With Camilla’s help, children will be able to speak and eat normally and they can enjoy greater confidence. As well as working in the hospital, Camilla will also be travelling to the rainforest in Ayurveda to work with a dental practitioner. She will be staying with a local family and learning how to make traditional medicines from tree bark.
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