Julie Andrews Uganda
My reason for getting into volunteering was to help people and to remind myself why I became a dental nurse in the first place! A lovely lady named Sarah, who works for Dentaid The Dental Charity, mentioned their overseas trips and I got in touch. After providing references, my passport, and DBS details, I was all set.
We met as a team at Heathrow Airport to travel to Uganda together. Our trip leader, Gail, had a wealth of knowledge and with nine trips under her belt, we knew we were in safe hands. The team – Heather, Paul, Alistair, Natalija, Lavina, Darcey, Jude, Jo, Julia, and myself – were all lovely. We bonded quickly, and having four experienced volunteers amongst us brought out the best in everyone.
We arrived in Entebbe, Uganda and we spent our first night getting to know each other. The next day we spent time sorting out donation suitcases. Prior to our trip we all collected donations of dental equipment to take with us. Local businesses were incredibly generous, donating toothbrushes, floss, interdentals, and protective gear, that I could take over to Uganda with me.
Lunch by Lake Victoria was a highlight for me, before setting up at the Rock Health Centre opposite a boarding school for our first clinic. We held clinics at various locations, including The Rock Health Centre, St Luke’s Church, Gulu Remand Home, and others.
One memorable moment for me was teaching toothbrushing techniques with a giant set of teeth and a puppet in front of a hall full of children. Gail and I led the session, and it was a lovely experience that I will always remember.
The patients who turned up to nearly every clinic had travelled hours to be there and waited even more hours to be seen. Whilst undergoing treatment, they were so brave and stoic to the point you would never have realised how they were feeling. I found this difficult to process as I’m used to more vocal patients in the UK!
This trip reminded me of why I became a dental nurse. I feel so grateful to have been able to help so many people. Over nine days we helped 1,349 people and providing oral health care to many more from ages 0 to 103.
My next volunteering adventure with Dentaid is to Cambodia in March 2025. Dentaid overseas trips truly push you outside your comfort zone (but for all the right reasons) and I’m so grateful to be part of it.
Written by Julie Andrews – Dental Nurse – September 2024