• Project 2006 Overview
• Project 2005 Overview
• Project 2003 Overview
• Project 2002 Overview
• Project 2001 Overview
• Project 2000 Overview
• Project 1996 - 1998 Overview
CONTACT INFORMATION
T: 905.567.8899
F: 905.567.9097
info@healthoutreach.ca
117 Queen Street South Unit 2,
Mississauga ON L5M 6B5
PROJECT ARCHIVES
Guatemala 2004
“Guatemala 2004” was a continuation of Health Outreach's annual projects into rural Guatemala at the beginning of each year. These projects form the foundation of the charity. The goals of “Guatemala 2004” were to see a greater number of patients utilizing a larger skilled team with more sophisticated portable equipment to perform a greater variety of procedures. We also wished to expose volunteers to the poor health of people in developing countries in a positive manner by providing a fulfilling experience.
TEN team members formed “Guatemala 2004”. They included three dentists, two dental hygienists, a dental assistant, a guide, two translators, and a public health officer.
Local community members are crucial to the success of the project. They permit us to use their facility. They set up, organize the site's patient load, control eligibility determination, complete patient records, and make referrals. This year, once again community members were actively involved.
The dates were January 25th to February 3rd, 2004. Two teams were formed, a Clinic team which operated in the Puesto de Salud (government health clinic) and the Field Team which traveled to local schools and remote villages.
Clinic Team (“Puesto de Salud”, Monterrico)
The Clinic, or Puesto de Salud as it is known, is a health clinic with three examination rooms, two storage rooms, a “sterilization area” and a lobby with seating for up to 25 persons. Two dentists, a hygienist, a dental assistant, a translator/manager ran the clinic site.
The skill level of the Clinic team made for a very efficient operation where even difficult restorations and extractions were performed. Patients were seen starting at 8:30 am even though appointments were made for 9 am. Line-ups began as early as 8 am.
Field Team ( Schools in Montericco and the village of “El Dormido”)
El Dormido is a small community of 25 families situated south of Monterrico along the Pacific coast accessible by road and by boat. It is a remote village which just received electricity. The livelihood of villagers was based primarily on fishing. Only one school existed. The school was built using private funds, with the effort of a social worker from Quebec, Canada. It is the largest structure in the village and seats approximately 32 students comfortably. 
It is still being improved. The students are divided into two rooms separating grades 1 to 3 from grades 4 to 6.
Transportation to the village was rigorous. The village was only accessible by 4x4 and took 45 minutes on travel over rough terrain. The objectives were to teach the children oral hygiene, perform dental screenings and procedures, and to promote good general preventative health habits using literature in Spanish. The field team comprised of one dentist, a technician, a hygienist who also served as an assistant and a translator/guide.
On Day 1, the team instructed oral hygiene and examined all 32 children in the village. Those children requiring treatment were booked the next day. All children had dental problems, many with pain and impending symptoms.
On Day 2, another dentist was taken from the Clinic Team for the field project and the technician did not come. Dental procedures were performed on 26 children, with 2 other children and their father rebooked for work in Montericco. Some adults with pain were also treated in El Dormido. Day 2 started at 9:45 and finished at 3 pm.
The services offered were oral examination, endodontics, oral surgery (extraction), restorative, periodontics, and public health. Attending dentists also prescribed and dispensed medications including antibiotics and analgesics. The dental staff provide one-on-one dental education to children examined in the clinic and at the school. The hygienists also distributed tooth brushes and floss with instructions on their use. In addition, the Public Health Officer provided the school teacher at El Dormido literature on preventative health and hygiene. Translation was always available. Surveys and forms on health history, consent, and instructional documents were in Spanish.
Patients were priorized as 1 Children in pain and/or who have infection, 2) children with urgent needs (discomfort or likelihood of pain or infection), and 3) adults having pain or infection. All dental services and products were free.
Our objective of servicing the community of Monterrico and El Dormido was met successfully. On a personal note, my greatest joy was being able to treat many people conservatively. Dental equipment was available to perform more fillings than extractions unlike the previous two years. I am also pleased to say that all children in the village of El Dormido who had emergency or urgent problems were treated.
Thanks to all the donors and volunteers at home who helped make this project possible with their generous support. top
Dr. Timothy Lee
Guatemala 2004
“Guatemala 2004” was a continuation of Health Outreach's annual projects into rural Guatemala at the beginning of each year. These projects form the foundation of the charity. The goals of “Guatemala 2004” were to see a greater number of patients utilizing a larger skilled team with more sophisticated portable equipment to perform a greater variety of procedures. We also wished to expose volunteers to the poor health of people in developing countries in a positive manner by providing a fulfilling experience.
TEN team members formed “Guatemala 2004”. They included three dentists, two dental hygienists, a dental assistant, a guide, two translators, and a public health officer. Local community members are crucial to the success of the project. They permit us to use their facility. They set up, organize the site's patient load, control eligibility determination, complete patient records, and make referrals. This year, once again community members were actively involved.
The dates were January 25th to February 3rd, 2004. Two teams were formed, a Clinic team which operated in the Puesto de Salud (government health clinic) and the Field Team which traveled to local schools and remote villages. Clinic Team (“Puesto de Salud”, Monterrico)
The Clinic, or Puesto de Salud as it is known, is a health clinic with three examination rooms, two storage rooms, a “sterilization area” and a lobby with seating for up to 25 persons. Two dentists, a hygienist, a dental assistant, a translator/manager ran the clinic site.
The skill level of the Clinic team made for a very efficient operation where even difficult restorations and extractions were performed. Patients were seen starting at 8:30 am even though appointments were made for 9 am. Line-ups began as early as 8 am. Field Team ( Schools in Montericco and the village of “El Dormido”)
El Dormido is a small community of 25 families situated south of Monterrico along the Pacific coast accessible by road and by boat. It is a remote village which just received electricity. The livelihood of villagers was based primarily on fishing. Only one school existed. The school was built using private funds, with the effort of a social worker from Quebec, Canada. It is the largest structure in the village and seats approximately 32 students comfortably. It is still being improved. The students are divided into two rooms separating grades 1 to 3 from grades 4 to 6. Transportation to the village was rigorous. The village was only accessible by 4x4 and took 45 minutes on travel over rough terrain. The objectives were to teach the children oral hygiene, perform dental screenings and procedures, and to promote good general preventative health habits using literature in Spanish. The field team comprised of one dentist, a technician, a hygienist who also served as an assistant and a translator/guide.
On Day 1, the team instructed oral hygiene and examined all 32 children in the village. Those children requiring treatment were booked the next day. All children had dental problems, many with pain and impending symptoms. On Day 2, another dentist was taken from the Clinic Team for the field project and the technician did not come. Dental procedures were performed on 26 children, with 2 other children and their father rebooked for work in Montericco. Some adults with pain were also treated in El Dormido. Day 2 started at 9:45 and finished at 3 pm.
The services offered were oral examination, endodontics, oral surgery (extraction), restorative, periodontics, and public health. Attending dentists also prescribed and dispensed medications including antibiotics and analgesics. The dental staff provide one-on-one dental education to children examined in the clinic and at the school. The hygienists also distributed tooth brushes and floss with instructions on their use. In addition, the Public Health Officer provided the school teacher at El Dormido literature on preventative health and hygiene. Translation was always available. Surveys and forms on health history, consent, and instructional documents were in Spanish. Patients were priorized as 1 Children in pain and/or who have infection, 2) children with urgent needs (discomfort or likelihood of pain or infection), and 3) adults having pain or infection. All dental services and products were free. Our objective of servicing the community of Monterrico and El Dormido was met successfully. On a personal note, my greatest joy was being able to treat many people conservatively. Dental equipment was available to perform more fillings than extractions unlike the previous two years. I am also pleased to say that all children in the village of El Dormido who had emergency or urgent problems were treated.
Thanks to all the donors and volunteers at home who helped make this project possible with their generous support. topDr. Timothy Lee