During Wednesday and Thursday of last week, we went to a local prison in Sierra Leone to provide dental care. We could not bring all of our equipment, so we could only do the minimal-simple extractions. Trying to describe the prison, the images of the holocaust prison-camps kept coming to my mind, not a place you want to be in. The prison was built for 300 inmates; however, there were currently more than 1200 inmates, beyond the capacity of what the prison was built for. The prisons in America look like luxury mansions compare to the prison we were attending. I would screen the inmates and proved local anesthetics. When the local anesthetic fully numbed the area of the decay tooth, the dentist would come by and extract the teeth. Some of the teeth were so badly infected, that the infection has traveled to the surrounding jaw, and “ate” away the bone. As of result, portion of the jaw is missing. The inmates were very thankful and grateful for us coming, despite of them being prisoners. It sent a very powerful message to them, we will treat anyone despite who you are and what past you had. By our actions, the inmates were able to see the loving message of Christ.
The following day we had a little girl come to our dental clinic, and she had a hole in front of her neck (trachea). Sometimes when she drinks, fluid would leak through the hole. We can’t provide the care she needs since the equipment available is use to provide dental care. The hospital clinic on the Mercy Ship is booked to capacity in with seeing patients. Some people have already been waiting for months to see a physician on the ship. I encourage the parents of the girl with the hole in the neck to keep listening to the radio and listen for any openings for patient screenings and admittance into the hospital ship’s clinic.
On that same day, we had another patient that came to our clinic w/ a large infection on his left shoulder, about the size of a grapefruit. One of the dentist decide to do something about it, even though it is not dental related. If we don’t do anything about it, the patient is most likely going to die, since the hospital clinic on the ship can’t see any more patients. The dentist went ahead and made an incision into the massive infected cyst, drained the area, and placed a draining tube to allow the infection to reside. During some of the procedure, I had to hold down the patient while the dentist remove cyst. We then gave the patient antibiotic and pain medication. Sometimes we go beyond what we are called to do. It is so inspiring to be with a dental team that will do anything in trying to help the natives.
Since I been here, it has been a struggle in wanting to help so many people in Sierra Leone, and sometimes I feel like I am not doing enough. I want to give money to the people on the streets, however, we are told not to give money away since it will affect the economy and encourage them to beg even more instead of working. However, when I have the chance, I will chat with some of the people on the streets and get to know them. Then if I felt led, I will buy them food or supplies, but not give them money. Helping one hand at a time, it is encouraging knowing that at least I am able to make an impact on some people, despite the overwhelming poverty. Even though I might not be able to help everyone, at least I did my best in providing care to some.
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