May 2022 Teams: Week 1. Our first team for 2022 came in on Saturday full of enthusiasm and excitement. After a team briefing and excursion to the shops we headed to Cable Beach to enjoy a sunset picnic. After a quick pack we set of on our journey on Sunday morning to Halls Creek with our three KDT vehicles and accommodation van. The community was very pleased to see KDT back in town and the teams had an extremely busy week working Yuri Yungi Aboriginal Medical Service and at the hospital dental clinic. A small team went to Ringer Soak Community on Tuesday and the whole team to Yiyili Community on Thursday. Many adults and children were treated at each community. Thursday evening we did ourselves proud at the hotel quiz night. Not actually the winners but almost. Our final night was spent enjoying a sausage sizzle and the wonderful Kimberley sky’s at Caroline Pool.
Dr Andrew Heap, Dr Ida Khosraviani, DA Mylita Levings, David Owen, final year dental students Jack Hawkesford and Zeidri Rasmussen, Jan and John. Week 2. The teams crossed over in Kununurra and our new team met us in Warmun on the Sunday. We spent Monday and Tuesday in Warmun Community working at the Ngalangangpum school where we screened the children and treated those in need along with many community members. It was heartening to see and hear from the school that the children who had had their GA’s in 2021 following our visit were now blossoming and thriving. Most of the team drove back to Halls Creek on Tuesday afternoon and worked at the Halls Creek Hospital clinic for the rest of the week. On Wednesday a small team visited Frog Hollow, Purnululu school to screen and then treat children identified as needing care and adult community members in need. After a Friday morning clinic followed by lunch in the park the team, except Jan, John and Jilen, left Halls Creek at 1pm on Friday and travelled to Fitzroy Crossing for an overnight stay before heading back to Broome on Saturday. On their journey between Halls Creek and Fitzroy they rescued a little pup who had somehow fallen or been thrown from a vehicle. He was taken with them to a rescue shelter in Broome. He has since been adopted by Ranae.
Dr Jilen Patel, Dr Jennifer Chan, DA Sandra Elliot, DA Ranae Russo, Rotarian Liz Tuckey, final year dental student Anooshree Katwe, Jan and John. Week 3. On Saturday the incoming team arrived in Broome crossing over with the outgoing team. They left Broome on Sunday morning for the seven hour drive to meet us in Halls Creek. Following an overnight stay in Halls Creek we headed south on the Tanami Road arriving in Billiluna in time to screen all of the children at Kururrungku before school finished. On Tuesday a dental clinic was set up at the Billiluna medical clinic and school staff brought the children identified as being in need for treatment as well as many who were absent when we screened. As well as treating children we saw many adults before packing up and driving further 108 km south to Balgo late that afternoon. On Wednesday and Thursday a team set up and had a very busy session at the Balgo clinic and the other team examined children at Luurnpa school and set up a clinic to treat those in need. This year we scheduled an extra day at Balgo which allowed us to finish all children identified as needing treatment. On Friday one team returned to the Balgo clinic and the other travelled across to Mulan on the edge of Lake Gregory to screen children at the school and run a busy session at the clinic before driving back to Balgo. On Saturday we packed up and drove the 514 km to Fitzroy Crossing where we stayed overnight and enjoyed an end of trip celebratory dinner at the Lodge. We arrived back in Broome early afternoon in time to repack for the July trip before the team flew out in the evening.
Dr John Hearne, Dr Jilen Patel, DA Ruth Warden, RN Sarah Merlino, Tracy Sandercock, Jan and John. Despite potential Covid disruptions being a distinct possibility, statistics exceeded expectations of the numbers of people treated in May 2022. The teams provided examinations, oral health education and dental services for 495 people. Additionally these services included 154 extractions, 219 restorations, 16 scale and cleans (low due to aerosol considerations), 45 topical fluoride treatments, 584 fissure seals and 7 partial dentures. In all, this represents $159,822 worth of free to the community dental care, assistance and advice.
Thank you as always to our incredible current and past corporate sponsors, Maven Dental Group, Denticare, International College of Dentists, SDI, Colgate, CBA Employees Community Grants, the Office of the Chief Dental Officer, the Mc Cusker Charitable Foundation, the Academy of Dentistry International, the Rotary Clubs of Perth, Perth City East and Heirrison for their ongoing support, the young Rotaracts for packing our toothbrushes into classroom ready packs.
Thank you to the Australian Dental Association (WA Branch), for their ongoing support of KDT in general and especially for awarding Grants for final year dental students, in 2022, These Remote Area Student Scholarships greatly assist with their remote placement costs. The John Prichard Memorial Prize was awarded to four final year DMD dental students. This along with ADA support allows us to mentor and support 7 students this year.
KDT teams continue to engage with remote communities, providing invaluable dental services in a friendly and happy team environment. Volunteers express the pleasure they feel in seeing the difference made by the education program and being able to relieve chronic pain for people who have been suffering. We cover thousands of kilometers in a region twice the size of Victoria and three times the size of the United Kingdom.
We are very happy to report that the Team has worked hard and completed the requirements for our 2022 Grant through the Office of the Chief Dental Officer.
As always a very big thank you to our fabulous volunteers and supporters without whom these results could not be achieved over the last twelve years.
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