Improve Oral Health
With poverty being a huge problem in the Developing World, there is often not enough money to buy toothbrushes and toothpaste. This leads to severe dental problems including dental decay, gingivitis and loss of teeth - often decayed and broken off at gum level, which lead to massive infections in the gums and jaw. This leads to ongoing health problems, as well as problems with not being able to eat and chew food - helping increase the rates of malnutrition, especially in children and the elderly. Often there are no dental services available in the areas that TroppoDoc works and the people can't afford the travel to the nearest island offering dental care, let alone the fees for dental services. There are increasing numbers of patients presenting to TroppoDoc clinics with oral health problems. Dr Derek Allen performs tooth extractions and provides oral hygiene education about the importance of brushing teeth. Troppodoc gives out toothbrushes and toothpaste where it can (along with oral hygiene education), but there is such a huge need for toothbrushes and toothpaste. If you are thinking of volunteering, or would like to help in any way, collecting new toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste - or sponsoring money to purchase these items would be much appreciated.
If you have collected toothbrushes and/or tubes of toothpaste you would like to send with TroppoDoc, please contact Margaret Thorpe - see "Contact Us" page. Thank you.
If sponsoring money, please mark donation: "toothbrushes/toothpaste". Thank you.
The photo shows Dr Derek Allen and Dr Claire Thurlow performing one of many tooth extractions at a TroppoDoc Clinic in Malekula, Vanuatu.
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