DT News - UK - UK dentist assists displaced refugees in Lebanon

Dental Tribune UK

Thu. 18 October 2018

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NORWICH, UK: Dr Gautam Sharma, owner of a dental practice in Norfolk, has just returned from a mission to Lebanon, where he and other volunteers provided treatment to almost 1,500 displaced Syrian and Lebanese refugees. Sharma was there as a trustee of the Dental Mavericks, a charity focused on improving access to dentistry for underprivileged communities in Morocco and its surrounds.

Sharma was part of an international contingent of 50 dentists, healthcare assistants, translators and cultural advisers who spent five days assisting Syrian families. Thanks to the efforts of his local community of East Anglia, he was able to take with him a haul of gifts and supplies over 20 kg in weight.

It was Sharma’s second trip to Lebanon this year with the Dental Mavericks. He previously spoke with Dental Tribune UK about his first mission there.

“I had some idea of what to expect this time having been there earlier this year,” said Sharma. “Even so, I don’t think I was quite prepared for the relentless pace of the number of patients coming through to be seen. We started early each morning and finished late into the evening, every day treating close to 300 Syrian and Lebanese children.”

“I was heartened to see that we were performing fewer extractions than on our previous visit, but still the need is high, and we were welcomed with open arms and treated with huge gratitude by every single patient,” he added.

“The fact that we arrived with an additional amount of gifts and supplies thanks to the people of Norfolk was a huge bonus. I’m extremely grateful to my practice patients, and to others throughout the community, who went out of their way to leave a toy or an item of practical use at our drop-off in the weeks before my trip, and those who contributed to the JustGiving funding pages.”

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