PAP




Today we are back in Port au Prince (PAP) reunited with the Mayor and her very capable team. 


We are in a gymnasium which is not air conditioned, yet surprisingly comfortable under a bright sun. And by working with the Mayors team from last year, our day to this point is super organized. 


Our friend, Susie, who we worked with last year and is part of the mayor's security detail, ran up to greet us. There is a lot of mutual respect here. She appreciates the effort we are making for the Haitian people and we appreciate how much she helps organize the children for us. 


We are also uplifted to see that the Mayor has brought a professor from the local dental school to see how we operate. Despite our effort, there will still be a substantial unmet dental need here. Perhaps the local school will be able to add community outreach programs. 

Yesterday was a bit of controlled chaos. Today, with the help of experienced local personnel, we are a well oiled machine. 


Last night, after a five hour van ride due to PAP traffic, we assembled in the restaurant of our hotel for a daily 'debrief'.  We actually had to move to a quieter spot because the evening's torrential rain was pounding so loudly on the roof that we couldn't hear each other. 


Most of us have been with KIDS a long time and we were able to trouble shoot the rougher edges of yesterday by recalling things we had done on previous trips that worked well in certain situations. I think any volunteer organization like ours needs a master plan, but also a willingness to modify that plan in order to meet the goals of the organization and more importantly, the needs of the community.  



Thus far, we are seeing good teeth. Only about 5 percent of the children are requiring extractions. We hope that this is  partially due to the results of our effort last year when we saw 10 percent of the children requiring treatment. And equally importantly, these children are laughing and smiling. 



Interestingly, they are poor children; yet, they are lucky to have a school director that provides lessons in oral hygiene, Monsieur Daupen. 


It's 1 pm and we have seen all the children that mayor intended for us to see. Because their teeth were so good, only 71 children required extractions. Yet, we feel happy for the children with healthy teeth and fulfilled that we were able to screen Xx children and provide fluoride varnish for those that required it. 








We'll return here, to this site tomorrow. The relative cool of the morning has given way to the heat and humidity of the mid day. I'm glad we rose at 4:30 and started seeing patients so early!

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