Late in 2001, Momentum implemented a fine system, so that if a mobile phone rang during one of our Workshops, the culprit would make a $10 'donation' to a deserving charity. Due to the overwhelming support for this system, we extended it, so that those who arrived late to Workshop sessions were also fined. At least now you can be happy in the knowledge that because we collect on behalf of a worthwhile cause, in some way the universe is benefited by your tardiness or disruptive phone!

The aim of the system is twofold; it both supports the Momentum philosophy and culture of contributing to those less fortunate than ourselves, and it aims to minimise distractions to learning during Workshops. We have chosen to support two charities that members of the Momentum Management community are involved in and that provide dentistry to those less fortunate than ourselves.

 

International Voluntary Health Network

The International Voluntary Health Network is a non-profit, volunteer organisation which has been operating since 1999. Their main aim is helping needy children with the provision of health and education services, with a special emphasis on the training and encouragement of their carers to enable the work to continue when the volunteers leave. They have helped to establish a dental clinic in Oradea, Romania, training staff in First Aid and providing dental equipment for a World Vision project in Constansa. They have also travelled to Liv, Ukraine to establish a two-chair dental clinic for the children affected by the radiation of Chernobyl. Future projects include assisting in an orphanage in East Timor and visiting Mozambique.

Volunteer workers give up their annual leave time to give their expertise in assisting needy children with dentistry, teaching First Aid, holding concerts and workshops for the children. They do this through the generous support of individuals like you, along with the efforts of many volunteers. One of our MP 15 group members, Dr Lindsay Bishop, is the Chairman of the International Voluntary Health Network and can be contacted at lbishop@swiftdsl.com.au for further information.

 

Rotary Nepal Dental Project

The Nepal Dental Project is a project of the Rotary Club of Gosford North in conjunction with ADRA (Adventist Development & Relief Agency). The project was established by Dr Malcolm Deall (MP 15) in 1992 and has been organised by him since then. Nepal has approximately 30 dentists for a population of 25 million and is one of the poorest countries on earth. The project has seen the establishment of 2 dental clinics in rural Nepal, and the treatment of 20,000 villagers by visiting dental teams. In addition, 4 Nepalese dental workers have been trained under the project and are currently able to treat 6,000 villagers annually. Teams of 4 visiting dentists have spent a month at a time giving structured tutorials and clinical sessions.There have been 23 volunteer teams visit involving over 30 different dentists, many of whom have visited more than once. More than 100 volunteer personnel have worked on the project in Nepal.

The other focus has been to establish, with Rotary Club of Kathmandu and the National Dental Hospital of Nepal, an orthodontic clinic in the National Dental Hospital for the treatment of cleft palate patients for whom there is currently no orthodontic treatment in Nepal. To this end, Malcolm Deall is teaching a class of 15 Nepali dentists a 2 year general dentist orthodontic course. There will then be the necessary trained dentists to work in the new clinic. The orthodontic clinic is linked to the newly opened Rotary funded maxillo-facial surgical unit at the National Dental Hospital, where cleft surgeries will be performed.

Travel and accommodation is self-funded by participating dentists. Fundraising and donations from dental supply companies cover other expenses. The project has now created much goodwill between the people of Nepal and Australia. Rotary and ADRA will continue to work towards basic dental care facilities in a country where toothache is accepted as a daily experience.

For more information on the Rotary Nepal Dental Project, please contact Malcolm at maldeall@tac.com.au

If any of you wish to make further donations to the above projects - either by sending a donation to us to pass on, or asking your friends to call you during your next Workshop! - your continued community support will be greatly appreciated.