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ePaper created 2014-12-05, 15:38:45 | version 1.33.01
I 33cone beam4_2014 fromFrankfurt/Main.OnarrivalatKilimanjaroAirport, we acquired a long-chassis Toyota Land Cruiser 4X4 equipped for safari. It was the perfect vehicle, with excellent off-road capabilities and great load-haul- ing capacity. We first drove to Arusha to get addi- tionalmedicinesandinstruments,sincefifteentrans- port crates from Germany weren’t enough for it all. In Arusha we obtained a great many medicines and other instruments from medeor that medeor Tanza- nia had ordered for us. We then continued on to Lake Manyara,whereweworkedforthenexttwodays,first treating the lodge staff and their families. After that, curiosity drew in a large number of other villagers. Following an arduous Serengeti crossing, we arrived at Ololosokwan, where we worked every day at both theKleinsCampLodgeandattheOlolosokwanclinic. We initially needed help at the clinic, which still lacks both electricity and running water. A more or less functioninggeneratorwasprovidedandweadjusted our operations to fit our new surroundings among the Maasai. We quickly learned to deal with the heat, tsetse flies, mosquitoes, flies and numerous other insects. A smut candle specially designed to repel insects performed well, but caused masks and clothing to turn black. At the time there were still no dental chairs, so we had to treat patients while standing up all day. The patients themselves were treated either seated on an office chair or lying on a doctor’s couch. We gained valuable experience during this pre-scouting trip in the Serengeti that helped us prepare for our next visit. Sincewedidnottakeanysupportstaffwithusthe first time, we planned differently for our second trip. My close friend Dr Axel Roschker from Cologne, who specialises in implantology and oral surgery, went along to provide active support, as did two members of the staff at our clinic, DentalSpecialists. Sandra Ahsan worked independently with us as a dental hy- gienist and Miriam Schorn transformed herself into a veritable tooth fairy in the jungle environment at Lake Manyara, assisting Dr Roschker with his work. Using additional materials obtained from medeor, we were able to equip additional sites. Now there are surgical suction pumps and instruments in Lake Man- yara and in Ololosokwan. With a team consisting of in effect three persons providing treatment, we were abletohandleover650Maasaiin14days.Bitbybit,the projectgainedacceptanceamongthelocalpopulation. Classes from the primary and secondary schools in Ololosokwannowregularlyvisitourhighlyspecialised clinic.Forthemostpart,thesechildrenarrivetogether asaclasstoreceivetreatmentattheclinic. special _ aid project I CBE0414_30-36_Joergens 28.11.14 11:59 Seite 4 CBE0414_30-36_Joergens 28.11.1411:59 Seite 4