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| Vol. 22, No. 18 |
| October 1, 2000 |
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Nicaraguan Clinic Organizers Visit UT-Houston Dental Branch By Shannon Rasp UT Houston Dental Branch
Health care leaders from a remote Nicaraguan town visited Dean Ronald Johnson and the faculty of The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Dental Branch recently to thank them for their continuing support. Dorothy Grenada, a nurse from the United States, and Grethel Sequiera, a noted Nicaraguan community leader and activist, run the Clinica de Mujeres Maria Luisa Ortiz in Mulukuku, Nicaragua. It is the only source of health care for the 55,000 residents of Mulukuku, and an equal number of people living in the 19 surrounding mountain villages. Grenada and Sequiera wanted to personally thank Dr. Martin Hobdell, UT-Houston Dental Branch professor and chair of the department of public health and dental hygiene, for his contributions to the clinic. Dr. Hobdell has visited it twice to provide oral care to the residents, and was the first dentist most of the patients had ever seen. Dr. Hobdell has taken five UT-Houston Dental Branch students with him to Nicaragua so they can gain valuable experience, while helping those who otherwise would receive no dental care at all. "There is quite a bit of malnutrition in Nicaragua, and a lot of sugar in the diet," said Dr. Hobdell. "These conditions, which usually go untreated, result in terrible oral health not just for adults, but also for children." "Dental health in Central America is abysmal," Grenaga said. "We owe a lot to Dr. Hobdell and the UT-Houston Dental Branch for their willingness to help us not only treat our patients, but also to educate them about preventive care." Dr. Hobdell has also trained several members of the clinic's staff in preventive oral care. "A big component of our new initiatives in health care is oral health," Grenada said. "We are currently in the planning stages for a dental clinic at our facility in Mulukuku. Right now, we are using rocking chairs instead of proper dental chairs!" Johnson had the opportunity to view photos taken by the clinic's staff. Patients are treated not only for oral health problems, but also for tuberculosis, which is rampant, and other serious diseases. In addition, this particular area of Nicaragua has the highest maternal morbidity rate in the country, and no electricity or running water. Grenada and Sequiera are on a fundraising trip to the United States, and were accompanied by Betty Cowan of Galveston's First Presbyterian Church, which has a long relationship with the clinic and coordinates the travel logistics for volunteers.
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/10_01_00/page_14.html |
