Hundreds of residents in Gahini and Gahanga sectors have benefited from free dental clinic checkups, courtesy of Canadian medical doctors.
The doctors who were hosted by HOPEthiopia-Rwanda, a non-profit organization, were on a mission of promoting oral hygiene among the rural community at the Gahini district hospital and the Gahanga health center.
Valentin Muhawenayo who received free dental treatment at the Gahanga Health Center said that she had an appointment at the Masaka hospital for a dental extraction, which would entail spending on transport and service costs but decided to change her program because she lived in Gahanga .
“I am happy to have received treatment without going through this process. I am profoundly grateful from the bottom of my heart having received free treatment at no cost,” She added
Martine Mukakalisa, another beneficiary who underwent a dental prophylaxis procedure also noted that she had dental caries but she didn’t have the means to clean them.
“i used to refrain from laughing in public for fear that everyone would notice the state of her teeth.” She pointed out adding “My personal thanks go to the good Samaritans for having provided free dental care”
The head of the Gahanga health center, Jean Marie Vianney Barinzi, congratulated HOPEthiopia-Rwanda for extending free medical services to residents.
“We do not have a dentist, and in this way, patients who require dental care are transferred to the nearby hospitals or the health center of Gatenga. However, it is an exhausting journey that some patients never reach and find it hard because of the costs and time involved”
“The free medical awareness has seen many patients come here and they were satisfied with the services offered,” He Added
The national director of HOPEthiopia-Rwanda, M. Ronald Asiimwe said that the awareness program is organized every year.
“We organized this activity because we work with specialized dentists. We have chosen to extend these services to the residents of this region to improve their dental and global health,” He added.
This year, it is expected that the organization’s dental awareness program will be extended to 800 patients in Gahanga and Gahini in four days.
