Page 43 - RADC 2017

Across the clinics we managed to treat 223 patients with 100 extractions and 77 fillings.
for most, the cost of travel to the clinic is beyond their means. The high incidence
of decay experienced is in large part due to the addition of sugar to drinking water. When questioned as to why this was done, we were informed that the drinking water
is extracted direct from the river, where all the waste water for the village also drains. In many of the villages we visited, water filtration systems had been introduced but they now lay unused. As with many well intentioned aid efforts in developing nations, a failure to implement maintenance of these systems ultimately leads to villages full of white elephants.
Across the clinics
we managed to treat 223 patients with
100 extractions and
77 fillings. Amongst
the members of
the expedition, the dentists were far and away the busiest.
The appreciation expressed for our
efforts from the locals and, in particular, our team was both heart- warming and motivating.
The expedition, however, was by no means all work and no play! Clinic would run in the morning but in the afternoon we were tasked with duties alongside the other members of the team. This ranged from studying the anthropology of the locals, jungle treks, laying camera traps, playing football with the locals and searching for Caiman at night.
At the end of the day’s proceedings
we would retire to our hammocks. Unfortunately, this did not mean an escape from pesky mosquitos! If I did end up removing the cast of ‘A Bugs Life’ from my hammock they would end up biting through it! I shouldn’t complain as, in contrast, the flora and fauna we encountered was quite
something to behold. We managed to
see everything from jewel beetles and
tarantulas (walking through our kitchen!), to Anacondas, Sloths and the famous Pink River Dolphins.
The fact that we were well off the beaten track meant for a truly unique experience, with much learnt and much gained.
It was an honour to spend three weeks in the company of truly remarkable people who are highly respected experts in their field.
I would like to particularly thank Colonel John Blashford Snell OBE for perennially inviting the dentists of the RADC to share
in his adventures to the most remote parts of the world. As well as being an excellent opportunity to practice field dentistry, the expedition is both fascinating and humbling in equal measure, and I would strongly recommend them to any Dental Officer.
RADC BULLETIN 2017 41