What to Bring on the Trip

Yourself and a smiling friendly face, to match the bright smiles of the native people of Micronesia. And a few dental instruments, we will use on Houk.

A packing list for Houk:

1. Two high-speed and pieces
2. Two electric and pieces
3. Two slow speed hand pieces, and prophy angles
4. Two boxes of x-ray film of adult and Pedo
5. Two sets of extraction, instruments adult and pedo
6. Root pics
7. Restorative materials
8. Restorative instruments
9. Local anesthetic, three cans
10. Disposable syringes
11. Box of needles
12. Sutures 3-0,4-0,5-0, needle holders
13. Six packs, 2 x 2 gauze,
14. Two boxes of gloves
15. Headlamps and batteries
16. Bottle of penicillin 1,000 tablets
17. Bottle of erythromycin 1,000 tablets
18. Air mattress

I shipped out in 2005 about $100,000 worth of dental equipment for the dental clinic on the main island of Chuuk (sterilizers, x-rays machines, surgical instruments, hand pieces etc).

This also included a portable generator, three portable dental units with compressors, and a portable x-ray unit for visits to the outer isolated islands.

All we need is our back pack with the supplies above, and you can help out these isolated peoples.

 

A view of the Houk airfield and Caroline Islands Air being loaded on the outer island of Houk where the team will conduct basic dental care for over 200 patients from Houk and the neighboring islands in Pattiw.

Other Helpful Information:


Something about Houk...

The Houkese people live off the sea, reside in palm huts and until recently some cement houses, and enjoy a matriarchal society in which the women own lands, primary clan lineage is through the women, and oral history is passed on with the women in the clan. And when the men marry, they go to live with the wife's clan. The clan structure is the very heart of the society. All the aunts and uncles are known as "inai" (my mothers) and "hemai" (my fathers). The children are raised by the entire clan. Food for the day is normally seafood caught by the men, distributed to the children and women first, and if there's leftover it is distributed among the men.

It is truly a rewarding and expanding experience for all who share this amazing adventure.

 

 

home | about us | projects | services | trips | ways to help | contact

© 2006. Micronesia Dental Support Project. All Rights Reserved. Web design by Vidalino Raatior (www.atawedesign.com)