Berlin (KU64/29.01.2009) After a long and exhausting flight, we are On Monday 1/19/2009 landed in Cape Town and after 2 hours of driving in Paternoster in the "La Baleine" arrived. Simone jacket and her friend Deon Brand have warmly welcomed. In a small breakfast or the assistant came from the dentist of the West Coast, Dr. Engel, and we talked to, what we need and how everything is set up. It turned out that we can not start immediately and build as expected, because the first day of school after the holidays until Wednesday and we can build a precaution until at least Tuesday. In the evening there was a delicious barbecue with Simone and Deon.
Tuesday morning at 9 clock began our first "working day" and we built in a church hall next to the school our little "Practice". After the initial chaos we got into some structure and assumed to be able to treat in the afternoon may have. Dr. Engel also was added, greeted us the first kind, looked around what we do and asked all doctors and managers to a meeting. After a long time our doctors were stunned to us and said that we should not work, because we do not have a license to use high-tech equipment and Dr. Engel is afraid that something bad happened to the children and then he must bear the responsibility. Everyone was angry and in tears. Should all be in vain?
After much back and forth we agreed that Dr. Engel is the injections and we treat. The work of Dr. Schelske, our surgeons, he wanted to take over. On the first day there was soon an appeal with the students and parents. Each new school child was welcomed warmly, and said the pastor. We were also presented and all were eventually to go after an hour of speech and prayer to our work. Quick came the first patient. But it was the parents and the children as planned.
On Thursday came the little boys and girls in their cute school uniforms to us. They are so sweet with her pigtails and sweet and totally disciplined. All had left very bad teeth and so it surprised us even more that they almost all say without anesthesia and without a peep or batting treated by us. There were only a few who have wept bitterly. It almost broke my heart and I tried to calm her and keep her hands. And fast they fast trust. And have been waiting a long time since many children and see things as they were always brave. Especially the guys with each other was about to show any weakness and over again to her Mates shown signs that all is in order. Real funny.
At the end of each treatment course there was a gift. One could even imagine how popular they were. Sometimes we had to move the children so that they have not previously taken it all. And so we worked every day from 8 bis clock clock 16:30. We brought the little ones from out of their classrooms, where they have sat so patiently for their little red plastic chairs and listened attentively to the teacher. Even if they all had on our work very much afraid that was the bravest children I have ever experienced. And there we have it all closed in our hearts, we decided to work even for 2 days longer. We have only taken the free Sunday, because everyone goes to church here. Therefore, we enjoyed the sun on the beach on Sunday, picked us all sunburned and crafted shell necklaces. We have learned little from the 3 girls who earn so little money. We could not imagine how they struck with a large stone small holes in the shells. We sat down to under a lot of giggles and we helped them.
On Monday, unserem letzten Arbeitstag, ist dann auch noch einmal kurz der Strom ausgefallen. Außerdem haben wir mit ein paar kleinen Kindern am Strand noch Fotos gemacht. An unserem letzten Tag sind wir alle nach Kapstadt gefahren, wo wir unsere Mitbringsel für die Lieben zuhause kaufen konnten. Am nächsten Tag ging es dann schon wieder zurück nach Berlin.
Ich denke, ich kann für alle Beteiligten sprechen, dass es uns in Südafrika nicht nur viel Spaß gemacht hat, sondern dass wir auch mit einem guten Gewissen nach hause fahren konnten, weil wir vielen Kindern geholfen haben. Wir looking forward to next year! We sincerely thank again the West Coast Kids Association, Simone Jacket, Dr. Ziegler, who have made this experience possible.
- the complete blog at: ( http://www.ku64.de/service/presse/blog-zahnaerzte-in-suedafrika.html )
- Photos: Justin Pharo / Laureate Foundation
- Posted by: Steffi Kohl KU64
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