On November 12, the Smile Clinic located at Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro Town celebrated their 10th anniversary since their foundation. To mark the occasion, the patron of the Clinic Dr Mark Johnson hosted a second group of hygienists and dentists at the clinic. The volunteer group is part of a wider program for the clinic which will see several volunteers from the United States of America offering free dental care to students on the island in the coming months. The second group was on the island from the 10th to the 12th of November, and over the three days, over 60 students were treated.
The three US volunteers that were on the island are Dr. Hal Solomon, along with hygienists Julie Feeley and Donna Duallo, all from New Jersey USA. Also helping were Dr. Mark Johnson, Hygienist Bonnie Musbach, Jen Wochner, Elizabeth Hudson and Norma Chin.
According to Dr Johnson, each visiting group costs about $25,000 which includes the value of the treatments, leave of absence from their official work, food, accommodations and airfare. Clinic treatments are free and are open to all Belizean students. Once treated at the Smile Clinic, each student’s record is entered into a computer database for reference.
Johnson expressed that since the foundation of the clinic, it has positively impacted the San Pedro community especially the children. The clinic he said, has always been open to target the student population in an effort to reach out and educate them at an early age about the importance of having healthy and strong teeth.
The next clinic will take place at the end of January 2015, and a fourth in the first week of February 2015. Dr Johnson would like to thank Captain’s Morgan Resort, Cholo’s Golf Cart Rental and Maya Island Air for helping with the transportation of the volunteers.
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