The eastern European country, bordering Romania and Ukraine, is Europe’s poorest nation with many people living in poverty. Dentaid is working alongside Moldovan dental professionals to offer oral health education programmes in special schools, nurseries, state schools and centres for vulnerable people.
UK dental professionals are being invited to join a week long volunteering trip in Moldova on May 13-20, 2017. The trip will involve working alongside a charity in the capital city of Chisinau and travelling to the impoverished region of Nisporeeni.
“Nisporeeni is the poorest region of the poorest country in Europe”, said Dentaid’s Moldova trip leader, Dermot O’Brien. “Dentaid sent a volunteering team to Moldova for the first time last year and they did a great job delivering oral health education sessions and providing training for Moldovan dentists who were very receptive.
“Sadly, the dentists are hampered by poor quality antiquated equipment and Dentaid is fundraising to provide a new surgery which would bring great benefit. We are working with the chief dental officer for the region who is committed to bringing affordable dentistry to the people who really need it.”
Retired dentists are also welcome to join the trip and although volunteers only have permission to carry out limited dentistry, suitably qualified people will be able to undertake topical fluoride application and other preventative techniques. However, the main focus of the trip is helping to improve oral health in Moldova by teaching children about looking after their teeth. Dentaid also runs toothbrushing programmes at schools the team visits which include centres for deaf and disabled children.
Stan Cozulea, chief dental officer for the state run polyclinic dental service in the provincial town of Nisporeeni, said, “The volunteers found it very rewarding last year. Of course our long term wish is that one day Moldova will have a dental service similar to ours, but in the meantime this is our opportunity to target the dental needs of the poorest people in Europe.”
Dental nurses, hygienists, retired dentists and therapists who would like to join Dentaid’s volunteering experience in Moldova next May must raise £900, which will pay for flights, accommodation, food, travel and make a contribution to Dentaid’s ongoing work in Moldova.
To find out more about the trip visit www.dentaid.org and follow the links to volunteer and Moldova. Alternatively call Dentaid on 01794 324249 or email info@dentaid.org