The local Nicaragua Team delivered Smiles to 644 patients in rural communities!
During the months of June and July, our local Nicaragua Team conducted an outreach in the Municipality of Rosita! Coordinated by Accion Medica Cristiana (AMC) and in collaboration with the Rosita Ministry of Health (MINSA), the Team was able to visit the communities of Unawasito, Samaria del Rosario, Poza Redonda, San Agustin, Wasaking, Danto, Buena Esperanza, San Jose Banacruz, and Sombrero.
In the municipality of Rosita, especially in the rural area, the need for dental outreaches is evident. A shortage of supplies has prevented MINSA from being able to include dental care in their regularly scheduled health service. This lack of resources prompted community health leaders to request for an increase in the access of care, especially for those who have difficulty receiving services due to limited road access.
The Nicaragua Team was able to provide free services, dental health education and hygiene supplies to a total of 644 patients! Read below for the testimonies of three patients who expressed extreme gratitude for the care they received.
Laidina Smith Castillo
Laidina Smith Castillo is 29 years old and lives in the Miskito indigenous community of Wasakin, in the North Autonomous Caribbean Region of Nicaragua. She is mixed Miskito and Mayangna indigenous, and is married with two children. Laidina was asked what she would have done for dental care if this outreach didn’t take place.
“I would not have been able to have my tooth taken out because I do not have the money to do so. If I had to pay, it would mean $8 for the extraction if I have it done close by. But if I have to travel to Rosita, the nearest town, I would pay this much plus the cost of bus fare. We have many economic problems right now so I would not have my tooth taken care of. My daughter has some problems with her teeth on the top, and she only had an old toothbrush. But thanks to the mobile outreach, she has a new toothbrush. She brushes twice a day; in the morning and at night. The good thing about the Smiles for Everyone outreach is that it comes to our community and the care is free of charge.”
Angela Maldonado
“My name is Angela Maldonado, and I am from the community of Danto 2. It took me a total of four hours to come on the bus to where the dental outreach is. I think it is a great idea. The dentists gave a lot of attention to the care of the patients. I think they are great. I hope they continue to support us because it really helps our community and our families. Thanks to AMC and Smiles for Everyone!”
Mateo Flores Angulo
“I am from the Santa Teresita community. First, we give thanks to God for this opportunity for dental care that we and my family are having for the first time with help from Accion Medica Cristiana and our brothers and sisters from Smiles for Everyone Foundation. We live about 2 and a half hours away from here. We had to wait to be seen because so many people are in line for their dental care. I have a tooth that is bad, and my son has several teeth that needed to be checked and cleaned. We see that toothbrushes are given to the patients which will help our health. If we did not have this Smiles for Everyone Outreach, we would have to travel 4 hours more to get to Rosita where we can see the dentist but right now there are no materials in the MINSA dental clinic. We hope this will not be the last time that we rural farmers will receive this support for our dental health.”
Thank you to Team Nicaragua for travelling to these rural communities and delivering Smiles for Everyone!
