DesanaGiving

It is hard to believe that our Spring Dental Mission (headed by Dr Michael Houk) is less than a month away. It seems like we were just saying good-bye to the 2010 Dentists as they headed home. This year's mission will continue the dental practice that was started last year.

You may recall that early last year, the Scared Valley of Peru was devastated with flooding from the Urubamba River. The community of Paucarbama (sits right on the river bank) suffered the loss of most of their crops, livestock, homes, church, and damage to their school. Desana volunteers headed to Peru to see what we could do to help. We partnered with a local organization and a charity that is based in the UK and through this association we were able to initially feed these people by setting up two tempory food lines and eventually get them back on their feet economically. Because of this relationship, we held our first annual Desana Dental Mission in this community. Dr Michael said, "we see us making this our Peruvian dental practice". And so it is.... this community will once again be given free dental care from Mike's 2011 team.

 

The 2011 Mission will be based out of Yanahuara, a very small community close to Paucarbamba. We chose the community because our Peruvian Dentist and friend Vladi Oblas Cuba was able to get  access to a small medical clinic. In exchange for the use of this facility to treat our Paucarbamba patients, we will also treat local people too poor to get dental care. "This is a very good thing," said Dr Houk "we get to use a medical facility which will improve our level of care and the poor people of Yanahuara will be able to receive FREE dental care. It is just good for everyone." "This field training is great experience for my students," said Dr Houk "last year's students told me that this trip was an experience of a lifetime".

 

The 2010 Mission was staffed by Dr Houk and two of his South Dakota dentist friends (Dr Mel Thaler and Dr Craig Cooksley) - three dental students - three South Dakota assiatants - two local Peruvian dentists - Desana volunteers and local Peruvian translators.

The 2011 Mission will be staffed by Dr Houk, five dental students, one of the dental students wife (I am surre she will be an assiatant), four local Peruvian dentists, Desana volunteers, two good friends (both from the UK - one lives in Peru currently) and several local translators.

Desana has purchased additional dental equipment for this year's mission. Last year we had purchased three portable dental chairs, two compressors, and two dental workstations. This year we will add three more dental chairs and workstations.  Dentists Without Borders (local representative Vladi Oblas) is providing our team with dental instruments. As you are probably aware, dental instruments are very heavy and quickly add up to additional baggage charges.

The 2011 Desana Dental Team will be:
Dentists
Dr Michael Houk (USA), Dr Vladimir Oblitas Cubs (Peru), Dr Tula Oros Camargo (Peru), Dr Elizabett Cuba Ambia (Peru), Dr Goyo (Peru)
Students
Ragan Frederick, Miranda Martin, Stacy Gould,Peter Harbert, Cory Peterson (all from the University of Nebraska Dental School - USA)
Volunteers
Lauren Peterson (USA), Leander Rollings (UK & Peru), Louise Whitaker (UK), Nilo Huillca (Peru), George and Kathy Houk (USA)