Kashgar Dental MissionXinjiang, China

18th to 26th September 2006

Dr. Shirley YapDr. Chua Chee Haow

Dr. Jerry Lian

Kashgar from top of Kashgar People’s Number 1 Hospital

• Old City • New City

(Kashgar is a prefecture of (Kashgar is a prefecture of the province of Xinjiang in the province of Xinjiang in China. The population in China. The population in Xinjiang consists of mainly Xinjiang consists of mainly the minority races in China. the minority races in China. They are the Uygurs, They are the Uygurs, Mongolians, Kazats, Mongolians, Kazats, descendants and mixed descendants and mixed races from the Middle-East, races from the Middle-East, Eastern Europe and Russia. Eastern Europe and Russia. Historically, Kashgar had Historically, Kashgar had been the main trade route of been the main trade route of the Silk Road, where culture, the Silk Road, where culture, knowledge and products of knowledge and products of the east and west met.the east and west met.Recent efforts by the Central Recent efforts by the Central Government to develop and Government to develop and populate this province with populate this province with Chinese from other Chinese from other provinces have lead to an provinces have lead to an increased number in increased number in Chinese in Xinjiang.) Chinese in Xinjiang.)

Weekend animal market

Atria-Pan Dental Group was Atria-Pan Dental Group was invited by the FIDA invited by the FIDA International in Kashgar to International in Kashgar to support the launch of their support the launch of their oral health program. FIDA oral health program. FIDA International was working in International was working in collaboration with the collaboration with the Kashgar Prefecture Health Kashgar Prefecture Health Bureau to improve the living Bureau to improve the living conditions of the people conditions of the people through raising awareness through raising awareness and educating them about and educating them about their environment, health their environment, health and hygiene. Examples of and hygiene. Examples of the projects that were the projects that were carried out included training carried out included training of village health workers, of village health workers, improving of communal improving of communal toilets in the villages, toilets in the villages, sourcing of potable water sourcing of potable water etc. FIDA International etc. FIDA International funded most of these funded most of these projects. projects.

We worked with professionals from Kashgar People’s Number 1 and 2 Hospitals, Kashgar Prefecture Health Bureau, Yopurga People’s Hospital, private practice, FIDA International,

Yopurga Health Bureau and Yopurga TV Station.

Yopurga People’s Hospital Kashgar People’s Number 1 Hospital

Yopurga TV Station Private Dental Clinic

Our mission was Our mission was to educate and to educate and raise awareness raise awareness of good oral of good oral health starting health starting with school with school children, and to children, and to involve and involve and motivate local motivate local dentists to realize dentists to realize their role in their role in raising the raising the standards of standards of dental healthcare dental healthcare in their in their community.community.

End of a hard day’s work..End of a hard day’s work..

• From left : Three village health workers, Dr Zamina from Yopurga People’s Hospital, Dr Shirley Yap, principle of Village Number 9 Primary School Aqqik Township, village health worker, Dr Chua Chee Haow, Dr Kasim head of oral and maxillofacial surgery department of Kashgar People’s Number 1 Hospital and Mr Karim from FIDA International

• Back : Dr Jerry Lian

Number 9 Primary School

Two schools in Yopurga County, Village Number 9 Primary Two schools in Yopurga County, Village Number 9 Primary School Aqqik Township and Village Number 4 Primary School School Aqqik Township and Village Number 4 Primary School Ashma Township were selected as models for dental Ashma Township were selected as models for dental healthcare. This would help set up dental healthcare structures healthcare. This would help set up dental healthcare structures and improve community dental care network in the villages. and improve community dental care network in the villages.

Over 450 students received dental screenings and dental-care education by the dental professionals.

Dental health drawing competition

Judging the artwork..

The importance of tooth brushing, diet and dental disease was reinforced through a drawing competition which was organized in conjunction with a national “China Love Teeth Day” event.

A total of 2 principals, 26 teachers and 20 village doctors received dental care lessons from the dental professionals. They learnt the right tooth brushing technique and how to perform simple dental screening of school children.

Approximately 140 students were treated for dental problems, of which 94 cases were dental fillings and 46 cases were dental extractions.

A hands-on seminar was conducted to teach modern Root Canal techniques as well as “ART” techniques, which would be convenient and useful in rural areas.

Hands-on session

Explaining “ART” to local healthcare workers

The project was well received. The success of the oral health program will require continuous support and reinforcement in many years to come.

The End