Dental Program Celebrates Milestone of 50,000th patient treated

Dental Program Celebrates Milestone of 50,000th patient treated

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The EMW Dental Team at the recent celebration honoring the 50,000th patient treated through the Dental Program

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Da Nang: The East Meets West Dental Program [5] celebrated a major program milestone over a decade in the making. Le Thi Yen Nhi, a 12-year old girl from Que Son District, Quang Nam Province was the 50,000th patient to receive treatment from EMW's dental team. Served on January 15, 2008, her treatment represents the tremendous growth and success this program has achieved. During its 12-year history, the Dental Program has provided over 175,000 dental services worth an estimated value of $8.5 million USD. The program offers free modern dental health care to poor children in central Vietnam an dwas one of EMW's first grassroots efforts when it opened at Peace Village near Marble Mountain in March 1996.

The occasion was celebrated during a two hour event held at the EMW Dental Clinic inside the Tuong Lai School for Disabled Children in Da Nang on March 12, 2008. Many special visitors attended, including directors from the Da Nang Department of Health, the Department of Education, and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Representatives also attended from the Colgate Palmolive Company from Ho Chi Minh City and the GC Asia Company from Singapore, two of the Dental Program's biggest donors.

Opening speeches were given by EMW Country Director Mark Conroy and EMW founder Le Ly Hayslip and a history of the program was presented by Dental Program Director, Dr. Charles F. Craft. Volunteer testimonials were given by Dr. Wendy Crisafulli and Dr. Robert J. Allen who represented the “Team Alaska” volunteers who completed a dental Outreach Trip to Hoa Bac Commune a week prior to the celebration. A final greeting was made by the 50,000th patient, Miss Le Thi Yen Nhi, who then joined her classmates in presenting flowers to the EMW Dental Staff.

Guests were then taken to the official dedication of the new mobile dental trailer (see picture), which was recently donated to EMW by Gil and Barbara Kemp and outfitted by Mr. Mel Potter. This new addition to the Dental Program will enable a dental team to provide local school children with dental education and preventive care services while also offering limited emergency and corrective care. Colgate will further their partnership with EMW by providing toothpaste and toothbrushes for all the children treated at the mobile trailer, and instructional DVDs will be shown that teach proper oral hygiene instructions in their native language. The dental trailer will move from school to school within Da Nang and is expected to treat over 2,500 children per year when fully operational.

EMW Dental Program [5] continues to "bring back smiles to the children of Vietnam.”