May 10, 2010
Located in rural southern Tanzania, Songea is an impoverished, remote district about 60 miles north of the Mozambique border. In November 2009, Longmont dentist Dr. Walter Schneider spent two weeks in Songea providing free dental care in a clinic run by Miracle Corners of the World, a nonprofit organization based in New York. Working with a local dental therapist and an assistant, he provided restorations, extractions and preventive care for both children and adults. In addition, he updated the staff in diagnosis, restorative techniques and infection control procedures.
Dr. Schneider also visited the School of Dentistry at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Dar es Salaam, the only school in Tanzania to award a D.D.S. degree. There, he met with the dean, Dr. Elifuraha Mumghamba, and the head of the department of restorative dentistry, Dr. Irene Kida. The school had recently received a gift of new dental equipment from Miracle Corners of the World, through a donation from Henry Schein Cares, allowing the school to significantly increase enrollment and upgrade its curriculum.
Photos:
Dr. Schneider with a group of patients just outside the dental clinic in Songea.
Dr. Schneider with Dr. Irene Kida, head of the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the School of Dentistry at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Dar es Salaam.
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