The aim is to help clinical officers in small Tanzanian villages to understand the importance of cross-infection control, patient support and the benefits of sharing of oral health education.
Henry Schein Dental and Bridge2Aid are working in partnership to help these dental students take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Natalie Frendo-Cumbo, a dental student, became aware of the programme at the Annual BACD conference in 2012, disillusioned with much of the other charity/voluntary work she had been involved with, she found Bridge2Aid to be a breath of fresh air. “Bridge2Aid is different in that it has a concept of providing a legacy of care to developing countries; not just helping people for a few weeks, but leaving behind a blueprint for a sustainable future.”
During her time in Tanzania, Natalie was able to not only help out the less fortunate people in the region, but also make some lifelong friends, whom she refers to as her “little B2A family away from home!”
The Elective programme, provides students with an amazing opportunity to experience first-hand, the truly devastating impact of untreated dental decay and infection. The beneficial effects of good quality, accessible dental care on the lives of those less fortunate is something that Natalie will never forget and she whole-heartedly recommends the programme to others.