Nina Frketin shares the unforgettable experience of her trip to Uganda with dental charity Den-tech and how she helped to change lives.
Embarking on a spontaneous adventure can lead to unforgettable experiences, and that’s exactly what happened when I found out about the Uganda Charity mission.
After learning that my friend and head of the Den-tech charity Andrea Johnson was going alone, I knew I couldn’t let her go solo. With no clear plan on how to fund my trip or secure time off, I decided to join her. Logistics didn’t bother me – I just said yes and figured it out as I went along.
Arriving in Uganda
Our UK team – consisting of myself, Andrea and Eboni-Rose (dental technician team), Tashfeen and Emma (clinical team), and Jamie and Euan – landed in Kampala after an eight-and-a-half-hour flight. Our mission to provide dental care to those in need was already in motion, with more than 100 patients booked in, thanks to Nicholas’, the Ugandan dentist we worked with, radio advertisements.
Upon arrival, our bags were confiscated, but after a day of negotiations and financial persuasion, we managed to retrieve our materials. When we arrived at Raki General Hospital, we were greeted with the incredible sight of people who had spent the night outside, eagerly awaiting our arrival.
High pressure
As soon as our clinical team was prepared, we wasted no time in getting to work, and patients began streaming in. I was amazed at how quickly we all bonded and worked seamlessly together, as if we had been a team for years. Each of us understood the importance of our mission and the tasks at hand.
Our days at Raki Hospital were long and emotionally draining, as we faced the pressure of treating as many patients as possible with limited resources. This meant we had to prioritise urgent cases, such as patients missing front teeth, and particularly women who shared heartbreaking stories like: ‘My husband will beat me if I come home without teeth.’
In just four days, we managed to provide over 100 dentures, leaving behind leftover materials and equipment to establish a small lab for continued support in the community.
Unbelievable moments
Our workspace was located next to the maternity ward where we witnessed some unbelievable scenes.
Women in labour were often left alone, scared and in tears with no nurses in sight. I even witnessed a caesarean section being performed due to a lack of privacy, which was a sobering experience.
Despite facing challenges like water shortages (they didn’t have clean water in the hospital, or water at all some days – think about that next time you want to complain about the NHS), food shortages, power cuts, lack of sleep and humorous moments like the absence of mirrors in our hotels, the joy we felt from treating patients made it all worthwhile.
The cheers, applause, hugs, tears and blessings we received were truly priceless. The happiness and fulfilment I experienced during our time in Raki is beyond words.
Eye-opening journey
Our second week in Uganda was filled with unforgettable experiences and meaningful encounters. We kicked off our journey by visiting the Kavumba Children’s Centre, home to 80 children in their orphanage and a school for 300 more.
Witnessing Destiny Africa, a children’s choir, was truly inspiring. Their voices were breathtaking, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room as they sang to us.
Our next stop took us to the Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch in Gulu, where we were awestruck by the growth of the white rhino population. In Gulu, we also visited a dental clinic where Den-tech is planning to establish a lab. It was eye-opening to learn about the scarcity of labs in Uganda, with most being concentrated in the capital city of Kampala, leaving rural areas underserved.
After a challenging nine-hour drive, we arrived in Jinja, the source of the Nile. Our day was filled with a boat ride on the river and Lake Victoria, followed by an exhilarating quad biking adventure. We concluded the day with a visit to Nicholas’ dental practice, where we witnessed the dedication of him and his team.
Plans were put in place to open another lab at their premises and offer a scholarship.
Despite facing travel obstacles, like potholes that will change your radio stations and unlock your doors (I will never complain about the M1 again) and hotel mix-ups, we persevered and reached our final destination in Entebbe.
Making a difference
I want to give a big shoutout to my boss, Phil from Mango Dental, for letting me take a break from the bench for a couple of weeks to lend a hand to those in need. And a huge thanks to Anaxdent USA for sponsoring part of my trip, and to all the awesome people who donated to my Gofundme page. Your support means the world to me, and I couldn’t have done this without you all. Thanks a million!
Uganda’s beauty and the resilience of its people left a lasting impression on me, highlighting the importance of compassion and gratitude in our daily lives. The saying ‘It’s Uganda baby!’ that our group coined during challenging moments serves as a reminder of the endurance and joy we found in the face of adversity.
Uganda has left an indelible mark on my heart, and I hope it inspires others to embrace compassion and make a difference in the world.
Find out how you can get involved with Den-tech by visiting den-tech.org
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