Dental Screening

Well, I was hoping to post once a week, but I can see that may not happen. The past 2 weeks have been very busy, both on and off the ship. Also I have sat down several times to start a new post, and I lose my patience. This is mainly because there are so many different things I could tell you about that I don't know where to start! I'll just give you a summary of recent happenings.

Last Monday I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Dental Screening. I was considered "Security," but all I did was wear a walkie-talkie and help the nurses who were screening the people. This takes place at the Hope Center which is less than a half mile from the ship. Sierra Leone has, on average, one dentist per 100,000 people. And the rare dental services available cost an astronomical amount to the average citizen. Being able to help at the screening was a very eye-opening experience. When we arrived at 8 am that morning, there was already two long lines - men on the left and women on the right. As we waited 30 minutes for the Dental Team to arrive, the lines grew longer until they went into the forest. There was at least 600 people lined up. And you need to know that these screenings take place twice a week! I know that people often come repeatedly if they are turned down, hoping for a chance. 

At one point a woman walked up to us with a small child in her arms. The baby boy had a cleft lip. The man who was leading our security team asked me if I would take her down to the ship so the child could be screened for possible surgery. I was a bit intimidated by this. I had never walked down Bad Boy Lane (the road between the ship and the Hope Center) alone, but in broad daylight I felt more safe. Plus I had the walkie talkie and could let them know if anything was wrong. So I led the lady down the road. I was worried that a crowd of people would follow trying to get to the ship. The lady's sister was with her, and she spoke a fair amount of English. I asked what the baby's name was, and the sister told me his name was Ebraim Sissi, and he was one year old. On our walk toward the ship, a man walked with us, and I assumed he was with the other two ladies. However, he wasn't. He kept asking me how he could get a card, an appointment card. It was very hard to understand his English, but I realized that he had a friend who had something physically wrong. All I could say to him was to bring his friend to a screening if it was a dental issue or to an eye screening if it was an eye issue. Otherwise, we can't help. After repeating myself, he understood. 

After I took the lady and her son to the screening tent beside the ship, I headed back to the Hope Center. Again, there was a man waiting by the gate, looking for someone who could help. It is hard for me to describe the condition he had. It was almost as though he had no jawbone, or at least no chin at all. When he spoke his mouth didn't move, and his teeth were permanently exposed. As soon as he saw me heading up the rode, he walked beside me asking if I could get him to the ship for help. All I could tell him was to come to the dental screening. Once we reached the Hope Center, I told him to go stand in line, but he refused. He just stood off to the side with other people who didn't have dental problems. This most likely means he has already been refused for some reason. I felt so bad for him. Having to look people in the eye and say "I can't help you"or "come to a screening" when you know they've been refused multiple times before is heart-rending. However, if you act as though you can help them, they take that to mean that you WILL help them. I'm not used to being blunt, but you really have to be here.

The screening went well...but I have to face my fears of large crowds. Once the nurse began handing out appointment cards to those who needed them the most, it didn't take long for a huge crowd to gather around us. Even though they saw I wasn't a nurse, people would show me their tumor or their dental problem. I basically had to ignore them since I couldn't do anything. When the crowd became too much, we would walk to a different part of the line so we weren't surrounded anymore. Many people became angry if they didn't get seen by the nurse, especially if someone further down the line was seen while they were not. It was so sad to have to turn away many people.

After this experience (and many others), I am beginning to realize just how incredibly blessed I have been all of my life and continue to be. Why wasn't I born in war-torn Sierra Leone? Why wasn't I one of the many people desperately seeking medical help? I know that I have done nothing to deserve the life I've been given. I feel such a tremendous responsibility now that I'm beginning to realize the state that much of the world is in. I think it took leaving the US to realize that all of the world does NOT live with the same comforts that I do. Along those same lines, all of the world does not have the same access to knowing Christ that I have had. So what is my role in all of this? I feel that if I return to my comfortable life back home permanently, I will be turning a blind eye to what I KNOW is going on. I keep asking God what he wants me to do with this new understanding. And I don't have the answer yet.

Once the screening was over, the dental team headed inside, and Sandra and I went into the dental clinic.  We had not been inside it yet. The Hope Center takes up one half of the building and the Dental Clinic takes up the other half. Once inside, Sieh who is the coordinator of the clinic gave us a nice tour and told how everything works. It is quite organized and efficient. While patients are waiting to be seen, they are given dental hygiene information, and I've heard they sometimes watch the Jesus Film. I am excited to go back soon as an assistant to one of the dentists. I've heard it can be pretty gross, but I can't wait to see it first-hand!

Here is a quote from an article written by Claire Ross:

"The dental procedures are highly professional and enviably efficient. It is an impressive operation. The majority of procedures are routine extractions of multiple decayed and broken teeth which create much pain for the patient. In fact, many of the patients have been suffering for months, if not years. The dental screening also provides an opportunity to diagnose other types of oral lesions such as benign tumors, which can be referred to the hospital ship for further investigation and treatment – often a life-saving intervention.

Dental health care services are rarely found in Sierra Leone. There are currently five dental officers serving the four regions of Sierra Leone with a total population of approximately 6.5 million. Basic dental problems such as decaying teeth and gum disorders can escalate into oral infections that threaten the lives of the sufferers. So, the provision of dental treatment is vitally important to the Freetown communities."

This is what our dental clinic looks like. It is usually staffed with 4 dentists, 1 hygienist, and 4  dental nurses. 

This is a photo of the dental screening that takes place twice per week.

Wow... I didn't realize that just telling about the screening would take so long! I will have to do another post soon about our weekend adventures and one of Osman singing. :)

If you can, please keep not only me, but the entire crew of the Africa Mercy in your prayers. We need grace when working with each other and the local people. Also, I believe that spiritual warfare is very real, and we need strength to stand against Satan. Thanks for your prayers!