VOCO Dental Aid

Madagascar: Mission with children, Tuk Tuk drivers and a small celebrity

A field report by Ann-Katrin Muchow and Roland Krause (University of Tübingen)

A field report by Ann-Katrin Muchow and Roland Krause (University of Tübingen) (Neu) (Neu) (Neu)

Our preparations for the clinical traineeship began in autumn 2018, almost a year before our departure. Due to factors such as organisation and local contact persons, security and the desire to travel to an African country and help there, we decided to go to Madagascar. In the following months there was a lot to do: Book flights, apply for a visa and travel allowance, vaccinate, collect donations, etc.

 

And then it finally started! We landed in the capital Antananarivo and were warmly welcomed by our contact person Sylvie and the two dentistry students from Vienna who were to accompany us in the coming weeks. After an overnight stay in the city we went to the DMG school in Miarinarivo the next day. Due to our short stay there, our main focus was on the treatment of children with toothache. The treatment of children was a challenge and an educational and beautiful experience for all of us. After a warm farewell we drove back to Antananarivo to fly south to Fort Dauphin/Tolagnaro the next day. At the airport our contact person Maria picked us up and took us to the Collège St. Vincentienne in Marillac. We set up our "dentist's office" in a detached building with the available equipment of Dental Volunteers as well as with the great support of Père Pierrot and the Fathers of the Lazarists. Here we treated in teams of two.

 

Our main tasks were fillings and extractions and beyond that also oral hygiene instructions. It was certainly an advantage that two team members spoke French very well and were able to communicate well with both the Fathers and partly with the patients. During our daily meals together, we asked a translator to help us improve our Malagasy knowledge, in addition to numerous practical things such as hand mirrors, pillows and electricity.

 

During our time at school in Marillac we also made two other experiences, which we will certainly remember very positively!

On the one hand, we spent three days in Manambaro, the home of Madame Fleur, whose name can be found more often in Dental Volunteers' assignments. With justification! She welcomed us with great pleasure, a lunch on the fire that was already simmering in front of her, a table set in her beautiful garden and proved her organizing talent with a multi-page list of patients and their coordination. Some of the patients had travelled from far away and were sitting lined up on school desks behind their house. Fleur called them up one after the other and also helped us with the translation. She speaks fluent English, French and Madagascan.

 

On the other hand, we organized a dental technology workshop, which was attended by a total of seven Malagasy dentists. After previous extraction therapy, we made a clasp prosthesis for a Tuk-Tuk driver for the treatment of the anterior and posterior gaps. The dentists were particularly interested in the workflow and polishing of the prosthesis.

 

After several weeks of treatment for grateful patients, we finally vacated our "dental practice" and our bedrooms. A little sad we said goodbye to all the friendly helpers who accompanied us during our time in Marillac. Afterwards we used our return trip to the capital to get to know Madagascar a little better.

 

We would like to thank everyone who supported us and our project with material donations. A big thank you goes to the VOCO company from Cuxhaven.