Helping kids smile in Vanuatu

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Tags: Health Sciences, summer-2011, Vanuatu, volunteers

Leah Hobbs performs a dental examination at Tautu School on the island of Malekula

A school oval in Vanuatu was transformed into a makeshift dental clinic during a recent visit by a volunteer group from The University of Queensland.

UQ staff Leah Hobbs and Gloria Silcock were joined by final-year Bachelor of Oral Health students Ariel (Chieh-Ju) Shih and Megan Cable and Queensland Health dental therapist Christine Southall on the island of Malekula in June and July.

More than 80 percent of people in Vanuatu live in rural villages and access to healthcare is limited. Vanuatu recorded just six dentists, six therapists and zero hygienists in a study published in the International Dental Journal last year. The dentist/population ratio sits at a staggering 1:34,812, while the comparable figure for Australia is 1:1910.

The team brought 80kgs of donated equipment from Brisbane, including 6kg of toothbrushes.

“The doctors were so grateful as oral health has a very limited budget in Vanuatu and they do have to work with very basic materials,” Ms Hobbs said.

Ms Hobbs educated nursing staff on early childhood dental decay and implemented a program in an attempt to reduce disease. Children in the area will now receive a highly concentrated fluoride varnish when treated at Norsup Hospital.

The team also visited remote schools to screen students and educate on preventative care.

“We had 128 children brushing their teeth on the oval at Tautu School. The kids loved it!” Ms Hobbs said.

Ms Hobbs said the team had built some great relationships during their time in Vanuatu.

“On the final evening, the Norsup Hospital staff put on a traditional feast of coconut, chicken and yam laplap and banana pudding to say thanks. This was a great time to relax and to chat to all of the wonderful staff. They do a great job with the challenges they face.”

By Inga Read

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