Case Notes:
Ghana Dental Outreach Group 2008
(Dental outreach, Ghana )

On arrival, a day’s induction introduced us to Ghanaian culture including use of transport and sampling local cuisine. We were also shown around Ghana Dental Hospital, as the outreach project was a partnership between Work the World and the dental hospital. We then travelled to Akwatia, two and a half hours North West of the capital Accra, where the project was based at St. Dominic’s hospital.

Our accommodation was in a guest house in the nearby town of Kade, where we each had our own room and bathroom. The whole team ate together at a local restaurant in the evenings and at the hospital canteen every breakfast and lunchtime. The project team consisted of us five students, a Ghanaian dentist (Dr. Okaine), several dental nurses, a technician and a driver.

Throughout the project our every need was attended to by John, the Programme Manager from Work the World. Each day two of us screened people in local schools and villages, whilst the rest of the team treated patients in the clinic. Any screened patients requiring treatment were referred to the clinic.

Treatment in the clinic mainly involved extractions, scaling and simple GIC fillings. Scaling was carried out in the mobile dental van whilst other treatments were performed in the clinic. The team were very helpful in communicating with the patients however we did learn a few useful phrases such as ‘Bower Num’, which means ‘open wide’! Although there was limited equipment, we soon learnt to improvise and treated as many patients as we could.

During the project we visited many schools, screening 6221 people of which 1291 patients, mainly children, were referred in. In the newly opened dental clinic at St. Dominic’s hospital we carried out 750 treatments, of which over 400 were extractions and over 150 temporary restorations. The project generated much interest and attracted a national television crew who interviewed us and filmed the clinic.

During one week we also had time to visit West Africa’s largest tree and the hospital zoo. The team was very flexible and allowed us to leave early on Fridays so that we could travel at weekends to see sights such as Kakum National Park, Cape Coast, Accra and its surrounding beach resorts. We would recommend the project as a worthwhile elective placement as we gained considerable clinical experience treating patients who do not have access to regular dental care. The Ghanaian people were very welcoming and we really enjoyed experiencing the local culture.

Work the World is a very organised and professional company which kept you informed at all points and are very helpful in fulfilling all personal aspirations that you may want from an elective project abroad.

Rebecca Lane, Sarah Morgan, Anna Brown, Jennifer Milburn, Jo Thompson: September 2008