Happy Summer everyone,

I won't make this a really long email but I did want to send you a little bit of an update prior to my return trip to Tanzania next month. 

 

I am leaving on August 9th and will have a busy schedule split between Dar es Salaam, Ifakara and Dodoma for 2 weeks. 

Since the new year, we have entered into a formal relationship with the Tanzanian Dental Association.  Having them as partners is amazing as we move our community oral health program forward. We will have some time to plan and strategize with them in person. 

Of course, there will be valuable time with our 8 Community Dental Workers.  I have not seen them since they have had their motorcycles, which some of you helped purchase, and I know they are eager to get Mama Kelly on the back for a ride.  I will have to watch them drive first to see who looks the most responsible before I commit to being a passenger 😁  I wish you could see these Community Dental Workers in action, they are amazing teachers who believe in the message they are delivering. 

Their reports show a continued commitment to educating the community, reaching approximately 300 people per week with preventive education.  They have also been able to distribute more of the children's books to some communities where they can clearly see the effects of widespread decay in the children's teeth. 

On the topic of the books, one of our most important pieces this year is a trip to Dodoma, the capital, to meet with the Ministry of Health.  They have seen the book and would like to review it with us with the intention of giving their endorsement.  To be straight, it is not an option for us to print any more books without their endorsement, so this is a must. At the same time they have asked us to present the Community Oral Health Program to them in this same meeting.  This is a BIG DEAL.  We have run the program now for 4 years and have completed (with the expertise of Dalhousie University's Faculty of Dentistry) full program evaluation.  So we have evidence of program outcomes and now we really want to draw in the government to take some ownership of the scale up of the program to other areas of Tanzania.  The presentation is mine to make with support of some of our Tanzanian partners, and YES I fully understand the weight of making a presentation at the National Government level.  I am stretched until I am just a bit uncomfortable but it is all VERY GOOD.  

I want to thank you all again for your support in various ways over the last few years. Some of you understand more than others how having stable oral health can positively affect someone's life.  We have seen 100% of surveyed parents in Luhombero-where we distributed the children's book last year-now reporting that they are brushing their babies' teeth daily.  This is compared to only 45% prior to getting this book.   AMAZING!!!  

This isn't intended to be any more than an update, but if you are interested in making a donation to program costs, please follow the link Donate | PCF.  

THANKYOU THANKYOU.  I am so grateful for all your encouragement and support.  I am extremely grateful that I get to do this work.  

Kelly