Free Dental Treatment for Poor People in Pakistan

Assalam-o-Alaikum and Happy New Year in advance.

Today's report is the second part of the series of Al-Mustafa's free dental camps held in Azad Kashmir. After the successful two-day camp in the capital of Azad Kashmir, our team was stationed in Kotli. 

The Camp Location

Kotli is one of the ten districts of Azad Kashmir. It is an ancient valley which dates back to the fifteenth century. The city is known for its abundance of waterfalls and mosques. 

Al-Mustafa's local team did a community assessment beforehand, so our team was well-equipped for the services. 

Dental Issues and Oral Manifestations Encountered

The primary diagnosis were:

1. Periapical infection

2. Gingivitis (Inflammation of gums)

3. Periodontitis (Loss of supporting tissues of the teeth)

4. Dental Caries

5. Halitosis (Bad breath)

6. B.D.R.s (Broken down roots)

The main obstacles people faced in getting these issues treated were: the private sector's dental treatment was expensive, and most of the population was economically weak. Also, there was no such dental awareness amongst the people or any dental education given to them by the related authorities. Long travelling requirements due to rough terrain discourage people from travelling far for any treatment, major or minor.

Our team did its best to provide immediate relief and treatment and create awareness of the importance of practising oral hygiene.  

Statistical Summary

‌Diagnosis 450

‌Scalings 201

‌Extractions 102

‌Fillings 36

‌R. C. T (Root Canal Therapy) 10

‌prosthesis 13 patients 49 units

‌Xray 196 plus

‌Medication 120

Assalam-o-alaikum and belated Eid Mubarak.

I hope this report finds you and your loved ones in good health.

Performing dental procedures on decayed teeth all day long sounds like a boring deal, but when part of your job is to visit one of the most beautiful sites in the world and bring back smiles of the native poor people, then it can't get any better.

The Team

You add extraordinary skills, passion and compassion to a group of dentists and what you get is Al-Mustafa's Dental Campaign Team. It is how they can be defined in simple words. This team is a unique combination of both experienced and young dentists.  

When our team learned that they would be visiting Azad Kashmir for the Dental Campaign, the grin on their faces was genuine. 

Equipment

After packing up all the equipment, materials and medicines, our team was good to go. Due to the heavy equipment, materials and drugs in bulk, the team had to travel by road from Karachi all the way to Kashmir. The equipment included:

1. Autoclave
2. Portable Dental Units
3. Compressors
4. Scalers
5. Surgical Instruments
6. Gloves
7. Medicine
8. Masks
9. Miscellaneous Materials

The Camp Location

The journey was beautiful but what was waiting next for our team was beyond beautiful. A wonderful city surrounded by huge mountains (the Hidden City) was ready to embrace these tired dentists and remove all the travel fatigue. 

Al-Mustafa's local office holders made the selection of campsites and community assessment prior to the visit of our team. The cityites envy the people living in beautiful mountainous areas, but life in the mountains is pretty tough. Travelling from one point to another is challenging, and facilities are more diminutive. Dental care is one of the most neglected parts of self-care. In Kashmir, long distances and compromised socio-economic conditions have worsened the situation.

Statistical Summary

The camp was held for two days. Our team was determined to provide dental care to a maximum number of beneficiaries, and the numbers below speak of their hard work and commitment. 

‌Diagnosis 1400

‌Scalings 439

‌Extractions 304

‌Filings 83

‌R.C.T. (Root Canal Therapy) 15

‌Prosthesis 21 patients 89 units

‌X-Rays 400 plus

‌Medication 507

This was our very first interaction for this project. More inspiring camp reports are coming your way soon. Till then, take care of yourself and keep supporting our project.