“The Chitrakoot Project UK began its charitable work in 1998, with the primary aim of bringing basic oral surgery, dental care and health education first to the children and families of Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh in India, and subsequently to the 500-or-so surrounding villages.
“In these villages, general health and nutritional standards are poor and health education is virtually non-existent. There is a high incidence of dental disease, facial deformity and oral cancer.
“Using the skills and dedication of teams of volunteer staff from the UK, our charity trains local staff to treat patients and educate villagers so they can become self-reliant. To date we have treated over 60,000 patients.”
About the Chitrakoot Project UK
“Our work ranges from standard dental care through to major surgery, including clefts, burns, facial injuries and tumours. With the ethos that prevention is better than cure, we place social workers in the villages to promote health education, for example, to instil in children that cultural habits such as chewing tobacco can result in debilitating and incurable oral cancer.
“Our volunteers include a mix of surgeons, university professors, NHS consultants, Harley Street practitioners, nurses and other helpers – all united by the common ideal of delivering the best care in a way that respects local custom and need. Many of our volunteers have a deep understanding of the cultural and religious sensitivities of the area, something that is essential when working in rural India to build trusted relationships with patients. This has also facilitated networking opportunities and we have established important administrative and political connections in the region.”
The generous support of the AOG
“The Chitrakoot Project would probably not exist today without the generous support of the Anglo-Asian Odontological Group (AOG). The AOG was established in 1981 and has grown into a superb organisation for the Anglo-Asian dental community, promoting social and professional networking, peer review, bespoke education and social events as well as being actively involved in a wide range of charity projects in both the UK and abroad.
“The AOG has supported the Chitrakoot Project from the very start. In 1999, they donated £5,000 to fund the initial equipment that was required to set up the first dental treatment centre in Chitrakoot. In 2005, they donated a similar amount in order set up a mobile dental clinic so our services could be extended to those in need in surrounding villages, making dental care available to those unable to travel to Chitrakoot for treatment. In 2010, the AOG gave us funding towards building a state-of-the-art dental laboratory, which to this day is in constant use to create models and dentures. In 2012, they again helped to fund a new surgery, ensuring the delivery of more treatments that could be carried out to match increasing patient demand. Most recently they have donated £15,000 for two new anaesthetic machines for our operating theatres.”
Vounteering at Chitrakoot
“Without the continuing support of our volunteer medical staff and the generosity of the AOG, we would not have been able to treat the thousands of patients who have come through our doors since we opened. We owe a great deal of gratitude to the AOG and want to thank them for their ongoing support and hope we can continue our relationship for many more years to come.
“If you want to do something really worthwhile, rewarding and very different with your skills, please think about volunteering and come and join us. Whatever your skills there is a need for them. For further details about volunteering at Chitrakoot or to make a donation, please visit www.chitrakootuk.org”
Henry Schein Dental is delighted to be in partnership with the AOG and gives added support especially in its charitable work. To find out more about the work of the AOG visit www.aoguk.org