Plymouth Dentist heads to Nepal with Dentaid

A PLYMOUTH dentist is travelling to Nepal with the charity Dentaid in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake which hit the country in April.

Simon Crewe, will visit Kathmandu and the mountainous region of Damilakuwa to assess how Dentaid can provide clinics, teeth screening, oral health advice and education programmes, working alongside the country’s dental professionals.

The charity hopes to be able to send a team of volunteers to Nepal in early 2016.

Dentaid has already supported projects in Nepal but many of the clinics were destroyed in the earthquake. A Dentaid box - a wheelie bin containing a mobile dental surgery that can be operated without electricity or water - did survive but the charity wants to send more equipment and dental expertise to support the relief effort.

"After a natural disaster people's first priority is housing, water and food followed by dentistry and eye care and we know there is a great need in Nepal," said Simon.

"There will be lots of people who have been living with dental pain that we can help. There is also the opportunity to work with young families. Many children in Nepal have four or five serious cavities before they even start school."

It is hoped the volunteers will also be able to offer oral health advice in post-natal clinics and pre-schools and support an on-going project based in Kathmandu

Simon, a former maxillofacial surgeon, has volunteered on Dentaid's trip to Cambodia, East Timor and Morocco in the past. He hopes the charity can make a real difference in Nepal in 2016 which is Dentaid's 20th anniversary year.

"Just being there creates a real buzz and people are wildly appreciative," he said. "They will often walk for a day or two to see us. This trip is about doing the groundwork and I hope that before long Dentaid will be making a real difference in Nepal."

To find out more about Dentaid visit www.dentaid.org