Schools have a separate morning and afternoon session. We are getting very busy now with children who went to school this am. More later.
While yesterday we did few extractions and lots of fluoride, today is the opposite, everyone seems to need teeth removed. That's because this is a poor slum versus an orphanage where children are well cared for.
On a break I walked down the street. The homes are mostly the size of a garage. The wealthier families build a second floor. Some homes have a small business on the first floor with a living space above. And it seems as if there are children everywhere. Lots of young children. Due to poor nutrition ages are hard to estimate, but it is not uncommon for an 8 year to be in charge of a toddler regardless of the traffic or any other dangers.
The dental team this week is good. No one complains about the work load, but the heat is another story; in this sweltering city Every one is complaining. Most of the students are from Columbia University. Parobi Philips and Bob Renner, who run this program, subsidize the students costs out of their own funds. The doctors pay their own way, but really, after the airfare, the food and lodging are very inexpensive.
We're beginning the shutdown process. We won't examine any more patients and we'll work to complete the fluoride and varnish treatments for all and extractions for some. We should be packed up and on the road in an hour or so. When we reach the hotel we'll unpack and have a debriefing where we discuss what worked and what we have to improve. It's exhausting but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
