The Country
Lao PDR is one of the poorest countries in the region of South Asia with pre capita of $US 350, and a population of 5.5million.

Background
Untreated dental decay is a major problem in the child population, and the resultant oral pain affects the ability of children to eat, sleep and study in school. The country has only 300 dentists to provide oral care and one government dental school.

                                       The Vision
The Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, at the National University of Lao has a vision to produce dental health professionals to meet the the oral health needs of the whole nation. Currently 171 students are enrolled in a 6 year course leading to a degree in Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and the annual intake of new students is 40.

The reality
One of the major obstacles to fulfilling the dental’s school vision is the obsolete dental equipment. The school has 18 dental chairs and dental units with some of the chairs dating back to 1977. Only half of the chairs are in operating order.

The Project
Properly functioning dental chairs and accessory equipment are urgently needed to replace the non - functioning ones and to expand the
facilities in order provide appropriate training of dental students. While the neighbouring
countries of Cambodia and Vietnam have
received much assistance from foreign oral health organisations, Lao continues to be
neglected.

Dentaid urgently needs to find a group, society or individual willing to sponsor the whole or part of this project and thus revolutionise the oral health care available to the people of Lao.

Total cost of this project £29,495

Click here to download the Department of dentistry - Lao future project sheet