It's not your typical two weeks abroad.
A London dental hygienist spent 14 days volunteering on the world's largest charity hospital ship on a mission to provide free dental care, surgeries, and medical training in Africa.
Diane Schultz, a hygienist at Sunningdale Dental Centre on Fanshawe Park Rd., was looking for a medical mission trip to join last December when she came across an urgent call for volunteers from Mercy Ships Canada.
"As soon as I started looking at it I knew it was for me because I had been looking at some different medical mission trips and this one pulled at my heartstrings in a very big way," said Schultz, who has worked in the profession for 33 years.
Schultz immediatly submitted an application to join the mission in west and central Africa and on April 2 she joined a team of six dentists, six dental assistants, and one other hygienist aboard the Africa Mercy.
With 75% of the world's population living within 150km of a port city, Mercy Ships' goal is to reach people in the poorest regions who have little or no access to health care. The Africa Mercy is 152m long with five operating theatres and an 82-bed ward.
Schultz said the need for their services was clear from the moment they arrived.
"Once a week there is a line up for the potential dental patients. That Monday morning when we arrived, sure enough there they were, hundreds of people waiting for help," said Schultz. "It can get very intense but they keep it very well organized. But among the folks that have been waiting there can be some tension as they are vying for a spot. The lead dentist and some of the other team members make their way through that line quite quickly, they know what's critical, what's major infection and swelling and they have other protocol and a check list to go by to be able to select the patients in greatest need of an appointment."
The dental clinic was set up outside of the ship and Schultz spent the next two weeks cleaning the teeth of men, women, and children who had never before had the opportunity to receive dental care.
"I cleaned those bridges and walls of calculus off teeth that have never seen the light of day. It was incredible. Even though there is a language barrier and you're not really able to explain what's going on other than through an interpreter, the locals know there is something not right there and they want to see the before and after," said Schultz. "I would be taking pictures for them, showing them what we are taking off because they may not even realize that it is not supposed to be there and once it comes off they get it. We then give them the tools to keep it from coming back. All the patients were more than grateful."
It is estimated that 85% of children in low income countries will need treatment for a surgical condition before the age of 15. Schultz saw first hand the need many of the local residents had for maxillofacial surgeries to remove large tumors and repair cleft palates.
"These are the poorest of the poor. Where we would see these ailments taken care of in their early stages in Canada, they have progressed there to the point where it effects them socially. They get ostracized and shunned by even their own families and community," said Schultz. "So when Mercy Ships steps in and does these types of surgeries, it gives these people a whole brand new life."
One of the surgeons, who spent his morning operating on numerous patients, took Schultz along with him during his afternoon rounds.
"He took me around to each patient, showing me the before pictures, describing the surgeries," she said. "I was able to talk to those patients, hold their hands and look them in the face and see their joy for what is happening in their life right now. That was really, really special."
Schultz has since returned to London and is encouraging others to consider volunteering with Mercy Ships. She notes she is already planning on returning to the ship.
"I'm penciled in to go back next March," said Schultz.
