This project seeks to provide the KAD prison dental service with equipment to enable them to extend the dental care that they can offer. The equipment will allow for the service to carry out restorative treatment which they are not currently able to do. The provision of this equipment will significantly improve the level of oral care and the overall wellbeing of the patients.

The KAD prison dental service seeks to help the 11,000 prisoners who are held in 25 Cambodian prisons. The conditions in these prisons are very poor with limited access to medical care and to dental care. Many prisoners suffer from chronic medical and psychological problems caused by the poor nutrition and vitamin deficiencies due to lack of food and the easy availability of water. Many in the prisons are suffering from HIV and Hepatitis. Sometimes the female prisoners have their children in the prison with them. They in particular suffer from lack of vital provisions for overall health care.

 The findings of a recent survey done by KAD of several of the prisons in and around Phnom - Penh showed that the dental needs were huge. Almost all of those examined required at least one extraction and were suffering from very poor oral health.

KAD are the only providers of dental care to the prisons in the whole of Cambodia. These needs must be addressed through the provision of treatment to relieve pain and infection. It is also vital to address the long term problems by carrying out restorations and encouraging people to look after their teeth.

The project will involve visits to the prisons at least one day a week. 10 expatriate and local volunteer dentists will visit the prisons in and around Phnom - Penh and will also take longer trips to the outlying provincial prisons.

This project effectively addresses the question of human rights of the people in the prisons. Access to basic medical care and to be free from pain is a basic right. It therefore has the suport of human rights lawyers and the Prison Fellowship in Cambodia.

The project has already had some funding from the German Embassy to Cambodia to provide equipment such as portable chairs, lights and a portable generator. They are requesting a portable dental unit and restorative instruments from Dentaid. This equipment will enable them to expand the vital dental care that they will be able provide to these people who are very seriously suffering from the lack of oral health care provision within the prisons.

Dentaid urgently needs to find a group, society or individual willing to sponsor this project and help to revolutionise the dental care available to this significantly disadvantaged group of people.

Click here to download a project sheet                                                                   

Full funding needed for this project is £3295. If you are interested in sponsoring this project contact Nicky at Dentaid on 01794 324249 or e - mail nicky@dentaid.org.