For many Costa Ricans, dental care is unaffordable. Tirrases a vulnerable community with 23,000 people living in poor conditions with 50% of immigrants, have to walk far to a Social Security Clinic to have a dental appointment, as well as wait for an appointment for as long as one year.
The project will address dental needs and provide affordable and easy access to dental care, oral health, and preventative education. This will be accomplished by providing clinical services and oral health education to pregnant women, children, elderly and other population groups in Costa Rica. The project will support and train dental hygienists, dental assistants, and provide graduates students at Meharry Medical School of Dentistry the opportunity of student residency in Costa Rica.
Through the development of a school-based, school-linked dental clinic sealant and applied fluoride program it will; increase the percentage and number of clients seen; improve access to oral health by delivering both prevention and dental procedures, and expand access to oral health education in schools and the community.
The Global Grant will be utilized to outfit a clinic with the necessary medical equipment and supplies (dentist chairs, lamps, x-ray machines, basic instrument, air compressor, sealant) needed to run daily operations.
Lewisville Morning Rotary Club, along with various clubs in District 5790 (Fort Worth, Denton County and other clubs in Texas) will support this grant. Rotarians, members of Rotaract, Interact and volunteers will participate to help complete the project.
