17-18th June 2015
Mum, Gloria, Richard, Bob, Neville and I went to the Seaside Community school on the 17th, with the van, while the girls were at the PCV clinic. Mum and I attended the school assembly and enjoyed the beautiful singing by the students. We then addressed the whole school, giving oral hygiene and dietary advice before the children went off to class. Mum then set up in a classroom, assisted by Bob, and did oral screening and recording for the junior class students, who would then come to the van to see Gloria and myself for their treatment. While Mum was able to screen all the children, we were unable to keep up with completing all treatment needed for the children, before the school day ended at 11.30am. The children were a bit apprehensive about visiting a dentist for the first time, understandably! But with their teacher's help, we were able to get through the treatment required for the children we did see. In the afternoon we saw the kindergarten students, who were more excited to see us (always a pleasant change to what we normally get!) for screening and as much treatment as time would allow. Despite language barriers, we were able to get the kids a bit more excited about brushing with our models, and the importance of a healthy diet.
Mum, Gloria, Richard, Bob, Neville and I went to the Seaside Community school on the 17th, with the van, while the girls were at the PCV clinic. Mum and I attended the school assembly and enjoyed the beautiful singing by the students. We then addressed the whole school, giving oral hygiene and dietary advice before the children went off to class. Mum then set up in a classroom, assisted by Bob, and did oral screening and recording for the junior class students, who would then come to the van to see Gloria and myself for their treatment. While Mum was able to screen all the children, we were unable to keep up with completing all treatment needed for the children, before the school day ended at 11.30am. The children were a bit apprehensive about visiting a dentist for the first time, understandably! But with their teacher's help, we were able to get through the treatment required for the children we did see. In the afternoon we saw the kindergarten students, who were more excited to see us (always a pleasant change to what we normally get!) for screening and as much treatment as time would allow. Despite language barriers, we were able to get the kids a bit more excited about brushing with our models, and the importance of a healthy diet.
We attended our first Rotary meeting on the 17th, which happens on the lunch hour for the Rotarians in the club. We enjoyed a nice lunch with the club, listened in on various club activities and projects, and heard a presentation from a group from Victoria, Australia, who are in Vanuatu to organise a Cricket team for over 60 year olds. The club primarily consists of expats from all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, France, Canada, and Korea. Our own presentation was very well received, as we each gave our own stories of where we come from, our work histories and some background about Australian culture. Mum and Susan presented the President, and our accommodation host, Richard Purdie, with banners from the Elizabeth and Clare clubs, respectively, and were each presented with a banner for the Port Vila club. We distributed our brochures, cards and badges to our new alliances, and exchanged contact details, so we can keep them informed of our time in Vanuatu.
On the 18th, the van stayed close by to the clinic, due to it being a school public holiday, we saw a mix of adult and child patients in the van. Despite several hiccups with the van, equipment, chair etc, we have managed to get everything working, (more or less!) and patient flow went much more efficiently today. We saw a group of children in the afternoon, brought to us by Ruth, a friend we made at the Rotary meeting the day before. She was very keen to get as many of the children in her school seen by a dentist as she is aware treatment is much needed for them. We have discovered that wearing our VTT shirts around the Main Street in Port Vila, attracts the Ni-Vans we meet at the shops, supermarkets, cafes, and they are all very interested in coming to see us.
Gloria and me in the dental van
One of my most rewarding moments, was a patient I saw on Monday at the clinic, who was so grateful for whatever treatment she could get, and for it being free, that she must have said 'thank you' a hundred times! Then by chance, Alicia and I walked into a shop on our lunch break, and it happened to be the same store where she worked. She was so excited to see me again, she hugged me and had been telling all her co-workers about us, encouraging them to come too. I saw her again today for some further treatment, helping to restore her beautiful smile, she was so happy with the result she bought me a lovely dress and some earrings! I was so happy to have been able to make her so happy, and to have added another lovely friend to the list of people I hope to return to Vanuatu to meet again.
Agnetha
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