Phase 2: Free Clinic at Nano Nagle Child Care and Learning Center for the Badjao Tribe in Alaska Mambaling, Cebu City. The Badjao tribe constitutes the original Filipino population in this part of the country. They lost their livelihood (fishing) due to a highway project.
Cebu City lies right in the middle of the Philippines - Cebu is an island 250 km long. The greater Cebu City area has a population close to 3 mill people.
From the drive through the slums in Alaska Mambaling on the way to the Badjao community.
When we arrived, the children were already lined up to be examined and receive treatment.
The parents were at first reluctant to have their children's teeth looked after. We therefore decided to treat some of the adults first. They soon realized that the treatment they received at the free clinic was excellent and willingly committed their little ones into the care of our professional dentists.
The children were happy and excited the whole time. They gathered around us as soon as they saw a camera.
A street close to the school where we sat up the clinic.
In the Badjao tribe, girls get married when they are around 13 years old, and the boys when they are around 15. Most marriages are arranged.
Inside the school, everything was nice and orderly, with enough space for the clinic. We spent 5 days at the Nano Nagle Child Care and Learning Center.
Up to 9 dentists worked in the clinic at one time.
Some had teeth like this and some were much worse. This menat that extractions in many cases were unavoidable. This 21 year old woman was fortunate to get her 2 front teeth restored.
Frank from Denmark and David from USA volunteered for the mission.
Organizors and sponsors together: Marie from Rise Above, Mariann and Pilar from the sponsors, Evelyn is the head of the school and Elisabet is project manager from Rise Above Foundation Cebu.
Flemming and Elisabet Hansen turned over the sponsored toothbrushes, toothpaste and handsoap to the school's principal, Evelyn
He did it again! Gabriel Tangalin, our technician with yet an invention: a home-made cup holder strapped to a 4 gallon water bottle.
The assistant technician Mars explains to Lets-Share volunteer, Christian about his work.
Evelyn says "Thank you" to Dr. Joergen Buchgreitz from Denmark and Dr. Pia Alberius from Sweden
Reve from Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and Rise Above's Jenny posing in front of our logo and slogan: TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
After the dental mission was over, Frank, Einar and a few more volunteers stayed back and packed up the clinic. We are able to make the entire clinic fit in two vans like this one.
We said goodbye and drove away from a place we know we will return to. The smiles, thank you's and waving children and adults warmed our hearts, and we have already promised to return to these warm and sweet people next year, February 2012
Dr. Sabah as well as all the dentists and volunteers received plaques of appreciation from Rise Above at the farewell dinner arranged by one of our friends.
We want to express our appreciation to all the dentists and volunteers who gave of their time and money to be part of this dental mission. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Dr. Sabah and Dr. Rachel are going to stay with us till the middle of March, and we will set up a mini dental clinic in various institutions. The next big dental mission will be from July 8-25, 2011. If you are a dentist and interested in participating, please communicate with us at info@riseabove-cebu.org. We need your application and pertinent papers by the end of April if you want to participate in the July Dental Mission. You are hereby officially invited!
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!