Our Rotary Club, as its principal International Service Project, again sponsored a dental mission to the Marshall Islands. This is the third, consecutive year; our Club has sent a volunteer dental team to the Kwajalein Atoll. Dr. Nora Harmsen, DDS, has led the team in all three years.
This year the Rotary Clubs of Waianae Coast, Kapolei, and Mililani Sunrise joined us in sponsorship of this much-appreciated humanitarian effort in an isolated part of the Pacific, some 2700 miles from Hawaii. This year, Dr. Nora was accompanied by Ms. Jinky Agtarap, a trained dental technician who dramatically increased the team’s ability to assist so many more Marshallese.
In 12 days during the period of April 24 – May 8, while working on 5 islets (Ebeye, Gugeegue, Enniburr, Carlos, Kwajalein) within the Atoll, the team performed 314 dental exams. As a result, Dr. Harmsen did a total of 293 fillings, 62 pulp caps; 382 sealants; 114 extractions; and prescribed multiple referrals for additional work. Using the fee schedule for general practice in Honolulu, the team provided free dental care valued at $81K ($50K, $63K).
Also, the team trained and enabled the local dental folks. The other doctor's and dental nurses had our dental team do the exam and most often numb the patient, then they did the extractions or some fillings while the team was in their clinic on Ebeye. On the outer islands (Carlos, Enniburr, and Gugeegue), our team did all the fillings and they picked up the extractions, but all the supplies and instruments were those that our team brought and shared. It proved to be a great learning experience for our team to work together. As the local dental personnel wanted to spend a day with out team, they took a different, local dentist or nurse with them to each outer island experience. Thus, our team enabled the local dental care providers to accomplish far more than they routinely are able to do.
Our Club’s efforts have rallied many in our community, as well as on the US Army base in the Kwajalein Atoll, to this worthwhile cause. Continental Airlines and their subsidiary, Continental Micronesia, have been instrumental with their donations of airplane tickets and excess baggage. The list of the dental mission support team includes:
