Page 42 - RADC 2017

EXPEDITION
remote villages, a small town named Puerto Narino. In truth, these five hours passed quickly as I was awestruck by the vast scale of the Amazon River. During the wet season the mouth of the river can be put to 300 miles wide and everyday up to 500 billion cubic feet of water flow into the Atlantic. This daily freshwater discharge is enough to supply New York City’s freshwater needs for nine years!
Upon arrival we were greeted by the chief of the Ticuna people, as part of a ceremony sharing the culture of the Ticuna, in the form of a traditional dance. One part of the dance showed how, during the traditional coming of age ceremony, a girls hair is plucked from her head one hair at a time. A hardy bunch the Ticuna, pulling teeth would be a piece of cake!
treatment and reading glasses as well as giving advice on water filtration and solar power. The aim of the expedition was to provide this aid as well as carrying out scientific studies including conservation research, ornithology and documentation
of herbal plants and remedies. Additionally, the source of much pride for the expedition team was the presentation of an Ambulance boat to provide potentially lifesaving access to the nearest hospital.
village. Upon arrival, stores would then be unloaded up a steep and slippery river bank in sweltering temperatures. With a recce
of the village, to establish sites to place hammocks and locations for the medical/ dental clinics, we were ready for our first patients within a very short space of time.
There were a lot of patients!
Queues quickly formed and rivalled
an NHS dental practice waiting room
in deepest darkest Wales! Our reduced capabilities meant that treatment was limited to extractions and temporary fillings. The biggest challenge was not so much the volume of dentistry but doing it in 35˚C plus heat whilst unable to communicate with patients due to my non-existent Spanish.
I quickly realised the extent to which I take for granted the use of communication in forming diagnoses.
The need here is acute, and although a dentist is available in Puerto Narino,
Some 70,000 Amerindians, mainly Ticuna, live in an area roughly the size of Britain. Whilst limited aid is available from the government, the chiefs requested
help with educational material, dental
A hardy bunch the Ticuna, pulling teeth would be a piece of cake!
The following morning would come to formulate what would be our normal daily routine for the next two weeks. Stores would be loaded as early as possible in the morning with a move up river to the next
40 RADC BULLETIN 2017