What? Where? Sierra Leone?

June, 2010

That was our response in March 2010 when our son Michael first mentioned the summer internship opportunity through GAF--Global Action Foundation ( details at goact.org) to work at the Amputee Clinic in Kono district for 10 weeks. Michael's next question was, does our health insurance cover emergency helicopter evacuations?

As we came to find out, the answer was yes. It took some research to get educated about the amazing work GAF had done in the amputee community in SL, including building the Amputee Clinic to provide medical care for the war injured and their families . Both founders of GAF, Dr. Dan Kelly from US and Dr. Bailor Berrie from Sierra Leone, are young physicians under 30. GAF has sent summer interns to the Amputee Clinic in 08 and 09 for nutrition, health education, technology, and systems improvement projects. Michael will be one of the 2010 interns.

After the decision was made to go, Michael got busy with the logistics of the trip: visa application, visits to the travel clinic for the recommended two shots and three meds, and a host of purchases-- mosquito net, water purification system, head lamp, solar lamp. water proof boots, and a variety of wipes, hand sanitizers, bug sprays, and sun blocks. He was also in touch with Dan to plan his summer project at the Amputee Clinic. The packing was a bit chaotic, but off he went on June 14 to Sierra Leone with tons of good wishes from friends and family.

What I really can not believe is: I am thinking of going too!!

What happened was, in talking with Dan I realized that I, as a practicing pediatric dentist, may be of help with the children and teens in the amputee community. Dan said there were no dentists in the area and none had ever visited. Oral health has been so neglected as most available resources went to fighting HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, malaria, and a host of other diseases. Dan said: Come visit!!

But I need to figure out what a modern dentist can do with no compressed air, no suction, and no equipment. From what I gathered, the electricity is not to be taken for granted either. There is certainly a lot to think about.