I have always wanted to be a volunteer. A huge factor in my choosing to study dentistry was voluntary dental outreach. Fourth year, I decided, was my prime opportunity to get involved in a volunteering programme. In July, seven other classmates and I travelled to Kumasi, Ghana, representing UCC Dental Outreach. Although our group was small in numbers, we were wholly determined to make a difference in dental healthcare and oral hygiene in the schools and orphanages of Kumasi.
After nine laborious yet gratifying months of bake sales; quiz nights; No school uniform days; lotteries; money collections and drawing sponsorship, we successfully hit our fundraising target. We assembled donations of 500 childrens' toothbrushes; 500 toothpastes; six sets of glass ionomer cement; gloves; masks; safety syringes; stickers; oral hygiene posters and leaflets; gauze; barriers; disposable exam kits; disinfecting wipes; crayons and pages to colour in. On the 29th of June, we departed.
Nothing could have prepared us for the beauty that was Ghana. We arrived in the capital, Accra, to a sea of vibrant colours, banter and people who greeted us, anywhere we went, with the word ˜Akwaabaâ", meaning "welcome". Transport and accommodation were provided on the first night, before our early five-hour bus journey to the Ashanti Region the following morning. Our beloved project abroad coordinators, Enoch and Gabriel, received us in Kumasi with open arms. The host mother, "Auntie" Agatha, and her family were also wonderfully kind and hospitable.
We first visited Komfo Anyoke Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, where we observed the routine proceedings in the Maxillofacial, Surgical, Restorative and Orthodontic Departments. Later, on our third visit to the hospital, we would see new-born babies with cleft lips & palates. There is a lot of superstition traditionally associated with the condition in Ghana, but thankfully this is lessening. The major concern we witnessed was feeding the babies, as they must weigh 10lb for surgical repair.
Using the money we raised, Projects Abroad provided more toothbrushes, toothpaste, local anaesthetic, antibiotics and painkillers. Frequently rising at 5am, we visited several schools in Kumasi to provide oral screening and treatment, including WESCO Demonstration JHS (2400 pupils), Duase Primary (645 pupils), Nyame Bekyere (950 pupils) and King of King (700 pupils). Our routine was simple: set up; screen and refer; oral hygiene information and demonstration; and, finally, treat.
Oral hygiene information was provided with educational posters and demonstration models. Question and answer sessions were held, with stickers awarded for encouragement. One girl asked us if it was alright to use the twigs of a sweeping brush to pick out bits of food stuck between teeth! Many children used ˜chewing sticks" to brush their teeth, a concept which I had never heard of.
Our treatment centre was then set up into organised sections: Extraction; Atraumatic Restorative Treatment; Scale & Polish; Sterilisation; Pharmacy and Oral Hygiene Information. Treatment was carried out with Dr. S.K. Ansah of the White Star Dental Clinic, providing consent of parents/guardians was given. We screened over 4,500 Ghanaian citizens and approximately 10% required treatment. Everyone who showed up with written consent received treatment and a goodie bag. I learned that, in this culture, a diastema is considered a sign of beauty. Furthermore, what struck me the most was the high levels of fluorosis; as millions of Ghanaians are exposed to excessive levels of fluoride through drinking water that is contaminated from natural geological sources.
For me, the highlight of the elective experience was the orphanage, Kumasi Childrens' Home. The children were adorable; they greeted us with open arms both figuratively and literally. During our final month of preparation for this trip, despite everything we had collected, I had still wanted to go the extra mile. In anticipation of the 2014 World Cup, I collected 100 sports jerseys, four sports jackets and six pairs of sports shorts with the charitable support of my home parish. My local sports clubs and primary school were more than generous with gifts and clothes for the children in this orphanage. Following their check-ups, each child was over the moon with sheer joy and excitement upon receiving their present. Like many Ghanaians, these children were huge fans of soccer! One friendly 15-year-old boy, Francis Berko, informed me of his dream to become a professional footballer. Needless to say, they all loved dentists by the time we left!
It was not all work! Fun and games ensued at the weekends, in the form of trips to the beautiful Gold Coast to visit Cape Coast castle, Kakum Rainforest, Hans Cottage and Kokrobite beach. We played with crocodiles; we revelled in African tribal drumming and dancing; we watched the 2014 World Cup from a cosy Reggae beach hut at sunset. I came home with two Ashanti masks, eight paintings and some rather fabulously colourful traditional Ghanaian clothes. I will always remember the mesmerising beauty of the Gold Coast and the sounds of Africa. At the end of our elective project, it was with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to our warm-hearted friends in Kumasi. Africa, I will be back.
Danielle Sheila Dineen