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INTERNATIONAL:
Volunteer Dentistry in Guatemala
Dentistry with Heart
San Juan la Laguna, Guatemala
September 2007
On September 1st a team of 12 volunteers from Steveston Rotary &
Sunrise Rotary in Richmond left on a dentistry mission to San Juan la
Laguna, Guatemala.
(click images to enlarge)
This mission trip idea was formulated in September of 2006 on a
flight from Guatemala to Costa Rica. Dr. Doug & Susan Nielsen's
seatmate was a director of the Fundacion Solar which works out of San
Juan to establish clean water and improve the quality of life for the
Mayan people. The conversation resulted in the Nielsen's preliminary
visit to the area in February 2007 where the population's urgent need
for dental care was seen first hand.
Our dental team consisted of Dr. Doug & Susan Nielsen, Dr. Jack
and Aliza Hutchinson, Dr. Liz Johnson-Lee, Joanne Dawson, Kathy VanVliet,
Susie Spencer, Garth Edwards, Bill Jaffe, Jean Oland and Michelle
Kwieton and Guatemalan dentist Willy Contreras.
(click images to enlarge)
We set up a temporary clinic in a local church with equipment
supplied by Dentistry With Heart, an organization headed by Dr. Jack
& Aliza Hutchinson. The Guatemala City Rotary met us at the airport
and provided transportation for our team and the 1000 lbs. of necessary
dental equipment & supplies we brought along.
San Juan la Laguna is one of several towns on Lake Atitlan, 3 hours
from Guatemala City with a predominately Mayan population. Including the
surrounding villages, there are approximately 12,000 people with no
permanent dental care.
(click images to enlarge)
Our team was treated to a Mayan tree naming ceremony led by the local
Mayan priest on a hilltop overlooking lake Atitlan. The priest explained
(in Tzutujil, translated to Spanish, translated to English) the ancient
Mayan traditions.
The Richmond dental team treated over 500 people with a mixture of
restorations and extractions and provided oral hygiene instruction.
Every patient left with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and hopefully a new
outlook on the importance of oral hygiene. Our work was greatly
appreciated by the Mayan people who came by boat, tuk tuk and on foot to
see a dentist — many of them for the first time.
(click images to enlarge)
Our goal is to establish a permanent dental clinic in San Juan la
Laguna by the end of 2007 with the aid of the Guatemala City Rotary
Club, Dr. Willy Contreras and supporters of our project.
The total cost of the dental trip was $18,000 and a Rotary Volunteer
Service Grant of $6,000 was received. Dr. Nielsen and family and friends
donated $7150. The total cost of equipment installation and supplies for
the new dental clinic will be approximately $12,000 and the Steveston
Rotary has donated $3500. The Guatemala Rotary will contribute $2000.
Future donations will go towards the purchase of supplies and
maintenance of the clinic.
(click images to enlarge)
Those wishing to contribute may do so via Dentistry
With Heart.
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