Dr. Regula traveled to Kigezi, Uganda with her husband and other dentists, hygienists and dental assistants to provide necessary dental care to communities in the area.
About The Mission
Nervous anticipation is the best way to describe my feelings before embarking on my dental mission (and honeymoon) to Kigezi, Uganda. Kigezi has one of the highest rates of maternal and child mortality due to malnutrition, anemia and poverty related diseases in the world.
Working with the Kigezi health foundation of Uganda and the Canadian organizations Change for Children and Kindness in Action, my husband and I joined a seasoned group of dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and non-dental volunteers who had collectively participated in many dental mission trips before but few like this one.
About Change for Children
Change for Children partners with communities in Latin America and Africa who are struggling against poverty and injustice, to improve access to basic needs, healthcare, and education. Their development projects, including their cost and priority, are determined by our Southern partners based on the current needs of their communities.
Learn More About Change for Children
My Experience
Over the course of 8 days, we would travel to 6 different remote communities setting up mobile clinics in a school or church. Many of the villages were situated on hillsides and we needed to walk with the equipment. As a team, we treated over 700 adults and children, providing cleanings, extractions, fillings and oral health education; everyone was given water.
On our last day, the local Kabale community thanked us with a celebration. Sixty-five people came including 15 women who sang and danced for us. We joined them and a dozen musicians that were playing horns and drums. I will not soon forget the beautiful people of Uganda.
