|
Dental Health International Nederland
|
|
The Aim of the Project
The aim of the project is the continuing support of two mission hospitals, St. John's Hospital in Mzuzu (North Malawi) and St. Luke's Hospital in Malosa (South Malawi).
To upgrade the quality of services rendered by these hospitals, by doing repairs and maintenance of the equipment, also by training local technicians of the hospitals to do the necessary repairs, resulting in continuation of income generating activities.
DHIN, Dental Health International Netherlands is a foundation which main objective is to improve the oral health care in developing countries. DHIN focusses on prevention and education. Another approach is to provide hospitals with low cost dental equipment, personal assistance, and dental material and instruments and sometimes financial aid.
This project focuses on technical assistance.
In September 1995 a survey was done in almost all hospitals and health centres where dental services were provided. Mr. Van Putten, a mechanic specialised in dental equipment and Mr. Visscher, dental surgeon who formerly worked during three years in St. Luke's Hospital in Malosa, visited 21 places, repaired all kind of equipment, not only dental, advised local personnel on matters like the maintenance of dental instruments, hygiene and management of their practice.
One of the outcomes of this survey was, that maintenance of dental equipment needs to be done on a regular base. (See the report of A.Visscher, February 1996.)
In 2001, DHIN received a request from St. John's Hospital in Mzuzu and St. Luke's Hospital in Malosa, both hospitals have a long standing relationship with the DHIN- foundation, for repairs of some vital equipment in their dental clinics.
The Board of the DHIN Foundation was willing to comply with this request and formulated the objectives for this project(projectnr.:2002-005)
A) To repair the broken equipment in both clinics
B) To do maintenance of all dental equipment
C) To train dental healthworkers to do simple maintenance procedures D) To train local technicians to do repairs of dental equipment .
E) Evaluate the program with the hospital management and dental officer in charge
F) Solidarity with dental healthworkers involved, supporting their dental health programmes
(see letter Mr. S. Fluitsma, dental surgeon of January 10,2002).
Mr. Herman van Putten together with Mr. Henry Tenten, dental surgeon(St. John's Hospital 1980-1983) visited Malawi from Monday, 26th of March until Sunday 6th of April 2002. In brief they describe the work they performed , their findings and outcome of this visit.
A copy of this report can be sent to you on request.
|