Tanzania Dental Service Project

Tanzanian Dental Service Trip, September 2019

Hello,

We need your help in delivering dental care to rural Tanzanians in need!

Project Coordinator:
Gary Clusserath, DMD

Project Sponsors:
SummerHills Dental Care

             Medical and Dental Care in Tanzania

 Tanzania, sitting on the Indian Ocean, is an east  Africa nation who gained independence in 1964. It is bordered by 8 other countries as well as two very large fresh water lakes one of which is Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake in the world. Tanzania is also home to the tallest point in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro. 

Tanzania is  a developing country with over 30% living below poverty level. General health and medical services are basically unavailable to rural Tanzanians. There are over 36,000,000 people in Tanzania. There is estimated less than 250 dentists within Tanzania or one dentist per 144,000 persons. (Keep in mind in most areas of the US. there is one dentist per 1000 persons.) Most of these dentists live in Dar Es Salaam. Basically outside the main capital and a select few other large cities like Arusha, there is no professional dental care. Folks have to rely on a nurse or medical doctor to deal with any dental emergency.


In September, we will work in a small mountain village called Masembuni (4000ft) in the Pare Mountains area of Tanzania, near the border of southern Kenya. We'll also work in Arusha and in Karatu near Ngorogoro Crater(serving Rift Valley Children's Village) Karatu and Masembuni  areas are very rural and lack many of the infrastructure items we take for granted—adequate plumbing, running water, reliable electricity. However, these are beautiful communities with wonderful families and loving local culture.

 
The Project

In September 2019, we will send a small group of dental professionals from the United States to Mwanga, Arusha, and Karatu, Tanzania to provide  10 days of special dental care to villagers who desperately need it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Tanzanians who would never see a dentist or hygienist get care. Our goal is to someday send dentists on a regular yearly basisto this remote region of Sub-Saharan Africa. Education ultimately is part of this endeavor, to get folks to value their oral health. Right now we need your help getting this next group to Africa. 

 

 
Clinic and Scope of our work

We will work out of very small rural dispensary run by Dr. Justin in the village of Masembeni. He has small room, 15’x15’ with electricity, but no sinks or water. We bring all our mobile dental equipment and dental supplies from the United States. Setting up the operation and knocking it down at the end is quite an endeavor. We will also work in the nurse station at the Rift Valley Children's Village near Karatu, TZ




We follow US OSHA guidelines on care and sterility. Because many of the patients have AIDS or Hepatitis we follow these rules very closely.
We see as many folks as we can between 8:00-6:00pm. There are always many patients waiting at end of each day who come the next day. Typically the surrounding villages in the mountains are notified weeks in advance of our arrival and services. On the first day we start there is a big line up already. We generally have to triage them, interview them and determine what they most need. Our approach is to try and deal with all acute problems first and then as much preventative care as possible.
We have a Tanzanian partner, George, who assists us in our work. He is super with Kiswahili to English translation.


We bring all equipment and dental supplies from the US.  We will see between 250-300 patients during our work week. We see all ages of patients.  

 In 2011 and 2016 I traveled with a team of dentists to Arusha and Mwanga, Tanzania to offer emergency dental care to local villagers in need. Many people had been living with chronic dental and gum infections for years. We performed oral surgery, preventative hygiene, and minor restorative care. Our goal when we arrived was to help them save their teeth, but unfortunately most persons presented with irreversible conditions and infection control via surgical means was all we could offer. 
We vowed after the week was up that we must return to Tanzania in the near future and continue this needy work.

                                   Why Do This?

Many of these people become desperate when they develop severe acute dental infections. Dental infections can and do lead to severe morbidity and even death. A single dental visit can drastically alter the life of an individual with severe dental needs. A donation of just 5 or 10 dollars can provide the supplies for one person that visits us in Tanzania for dental care. And by donating more, you can facilitate dental care for even more people.  

 


  Cost to operate this project

I have traveled abroad three times on volunter dental service trips. For each of those trips I operated and performed with other project organizers and leaders. I mainly had to get myself to the location and bring a few supplies. 

I am now organizing my own group of dental professionals to complete another Tanzanian service visit.
  The following is a realistic estimation of costs for the trip planned for September, 2019:

Travel:             (airlines)                                                    $2200
Transportation within Tanzania:                              $750*
Baggage(airlines-includes transport

 of dental equipment):                                                   $1000*
Food, Lodging, personal expenses:                        $1000
Dental Equipment and Supplies:                             $1500*
Payments for Local Help:                                            $500*

 

*Includes multiple vehicle transportation to get to remote Pare Mountains including all permits and expenses

*Airlines charge per bag or item, estimate of at least 6 extra dental items(chairs, drs unit, sterilization all to be checked on to airlines as extra baggage)

*Includes purchase of extra dental supplies, preventative/hygiene items, disposable surgical items, disposable prep items like gauze and cotton and sterilization supplies.

*We hire local help to assist us in all facets of the project from driving to clinic operation to heavy manual labor    

 
                        We need your help!

Thank you for taking the time to read about this project. Please consider a small donation to help me fund this  incredibly important work. Every single dollar I raise helps.

You can either send me a check:
Tanzania Dental Service Trip-
Dr. Gary Clusserath
2690 Elsie Irene Ln
Reno, NV 89503

Or donate here on GOFUNDME.com
http://www.gofundme.com/dentalafrica