This year Dr Ross Napoli had the extraordinary opportunity to work with the long established Australian Vietnam Volunteers Resource Group (AVVRG) in the Dental care team in the Long Tan region of the BaRia – Vung Tau Province. The AVVRG Dental Clinic at Long Tan is periodically visited by Australian dentists able to assist locals with dental care. The provision of dental care and dental hygiene education is a low priority matter in Vietnam. The ready availability of sugary sweets in Vietnam results in a very high rate of dental caries in children, The Dental Care Team are currently pursuing an oral health care program in the region in conjunction with the local Department of Health. Practicing Dentists are always welcomed to support this ongoing project and we were granted the opportunity to assist.

Some portable dental equipment is available which have enabled the teams to travel to the children in the schools surrounding Long Tan.

Contrary to what we may think about the modernisation of Vietnam, the country still has many problems with severe poverty and lack of basic healthcare. I have treated many disadvantaged children in other countries but I have never seen the ravages of war on a population of people who are some of the kindest and friendliest on earth.

2017 bought on yet another aid trip to assist Cambodia World family in their provision of providing care for the underprivileged children of Cambodia and providing training and support to the dedicated staff of this great facility in Phnom Penh.

During July 2017 we had a great opportunity to work with, and train the local staff where a considerable amount of time was spent honing the skills of the amazing nurses who act as “therapists” in controlling the dental disease in the absence of volunteers such as ourselves. They generally work under the supervision of Dr Boran who guides the treatment of the children and this provides a great service to the children who attend the facility where help is always needed but they are always heavily understaffed.