ARTS Senegal

Here are some of the photos from my recent trip to Senegal with ARTS (A reason to Smile). My phone did not survive the trip, all photos were taken by Nancy Marie and Mariel. Thanks for the digital memories! 

A beautiful mosque on the way to Northern Senegal 

A perfect aim in the bathroom is a must

Our hotel in Ndioum

One of the most amazing health centers in Pete, Senegal. Your operatory chairs may have looked better than mine?

Getting ready for a day of extractions 

This is how we sterilized our instruments. A pot of hot water always comes in handy

Our peace corps volunteer and translator Marissa in Pete. Don't mess with her..she does not take sassiness

Eating around the lunch bowl with Nancy, Nicole, and Mariel

All SMILES!

Stay hydrated my friends

Stretchy Pants Unite!

Nancy and I working hard

We were the entertainment for the kids. All the kids couldn't resist peeking through the windows

My favorite picture of Nancy and Rreze. The kids loved them! 

The whole team with some of the peace corps volunteers. Of course my eyes are closed :) 

Peace corps agriculture volunteer Alicia Gray in her garden

                                     

Our last day in Senegal. This is a shot of a busy market in Dakar 

                                       

                                     

Everything is halal here, mine is ginger ale for the record.

Here is my blog from my favorite village Louge

I spent the evening before our clinic day in Louge Tourge a small village in North Senegal. I was hosted by Marissa a health peace corps volunteer that has spent the past two years living and working in the village. Each person that stopped to greet my host and I would immediately open their mouth and ask for a quick exam. They all expressed interest in seeing me tomorrow and being placed at the top of the list.

I could feel the energy and excitement grow throughout the night, everyone was telling tales of the Toubab dentist. Women gossiped over the food bowl over who should be placed at the top of the "list". After much discussion it was agreed that a young girl who misheard the dates and had traveled to the village three days prior for the dentist would be given the first spot on the list.

Marissa and I arrived early to set up the site at the local health center to find the entire foyer filled with people. I was overwhelmed with the immense need for dental treatment. Unlike other sites that we have visited the word had spread throughout all of the ethnic groups in the area ( Fula/Pulaar, Wolof, Serer). Over a hundred people were waiting outside in the dry heat.  It was breath taking to witness the solidarity in the groups of people.
Each person greeted each other sincerly over and over again stating that they wish peace to the other "m'Badaa, jam ton, Ada selli, mawdum.

Our van bringing supplies and volunteers was delayed in Ndioum. Many people began to panic that there would be no treatment.  Groups of people began to present their case to Marissa on why they should be guaranteed treatment. Finally the supplies arrived and everyone began to settle down under the shade of the Baobab tree. We worked non stop from 9:30-3:45 until the head nurse finally asked everyone to take a break.

The vast amount of caries was particularly sad to see as a dentist. Children and young adults loosing teeth that had just erupted. As the sun began to set our headlights were not strong enough to illuminate the space. At the close of the day we saw 87 patients. While I was ecstatic that we had helped to alleviate pain from those suffering from dental disease. The day felt incomplete, because we had to turn away sixty people. I then understood why each person had insisted the night before on greeting me and asking to be placed on the "list".