The first dentists in the history of Kalukembe Hospital!

 A breath of fresh air! Smiles to our faces! Set our teeth straight. . . no wait, maybe not exactly. But the latest visitors to Kalukembe Hospital came with skills not seen in the known history of the area. Drs Cesar and Shay, from Curitiba in Brazil, brought energy and skills for well over two busy weeks of dental care. As far as our colleagues at the hospital could tell, this was the first time that dentists provided restorations and root canals, not just extractions. Dr. Tito, our resident dentist, benefited greatly from their tutelage and the increased volume of patients to learn some new techniques. Not to mention, doing more extractions :) Over 500 extractions, 473 restorations, 387 teeth cleanings and a root canal rounded out their productive visit. They also took out time to give a lesson to our nursing school and perform a skit for our children's church. The main theme of the skit: keep your teeth clean!

Also in January, Dr. Emmanuel I., a surgeon, visited from Nigeria. He is very interested in coming to work full time with us here. He just graduated from a PAACS (Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons) program in Niger and is applying for a 5 year grant to come as a missionary surgeon here. We loved having him in the operating room, on the wards and playing games with our family at home; he even made amazingly delicious and spicy Nigerian cuisine for us! Please pray he will be accepted and we can help support his ministry here. 

Drs Cesar and Tito (L and R), working together on dental fillings during the dental outreach

  

(L to R) Tio Tito (nurse anesthetist), Dr. Emmanuel and Tio Pereira (surgical clinician) in the operating room. We respect Tio Tomas and Tio Pereira greatly, so it was an encouraging endorsement that they too appreciated Dr. Emmanuel's character and skills

Dr. Emmanuel with assistant on a laparotomy case

The Brazilian visitors with our dental/OR staff setting up before their first day of dental work.

Isn't it a joy to give? Our nurse, Joana, giving a doll that was knitted by supporters to a patient with Down Syndrome (permission granted by her loving grandma). These dolls, which came across the years from supporters in a community homeschooling group in Hamilton, Canada, have been a delightful gift to our pediatric patients. They never stop bringing smiles to girls and their families. . . even this girl smiled before the picture was taken :)