Dr. Walter Schneider returned from a two week dental outreach where he volunteered at the Liana Cohen Dental Clinic located in the Miracle Corners Songea Community Center in Tanzania. Dr. Schneider worked with Dr. Eliud Bilal, dental therapist at the clinic, and Augusta Winna, dental therapist assistant, to provide free dental services and education to the local Songea community.
During his two weeks in mid-November, Dr. Schneider performed procedures such as primary fillings, extractions in addition to providing preventative services such as cleanings and fluoride treatment. In addition to providing services to the community, Dr. Schneider updated both Dr. Bilal and Augusta on diagnosis, restorative techniques and infection control procedures.
Upon returning, Dr. Schneider indicated that “there is a huge and ongoing need, but through the [clinic and] outreach, MCW makes it possible to deliver care on a regular basis, which greatly improves the overall quality of oral health”.
Dr. Schneider is a practicing dentist in Colorado.
Dr. Walter Schneider with local youth at the MCW Songea Community Center
About the Liana Cohen Dental Clinic
In 2005, MCW built and equipped the Kipera Dental Clinic (adjacent to the MCT Kipera, Songea community center), a stand-alone facility in Ruvuma Ward, Songea Municipality. An MOU was entered into between MCW and the Songea Municipal Council. The parties used the Private Sector Participation (PSP) model, whereby service provision is outsourced to the Songea Municipal Council that staffs the clinic with full-time Government employed dental personnel under the direction of the Regional Dental Officer.
The dental clinic provides preventive and acute oral health care to the surrounding community, along with school-based preventive oral health education throughout the Songea region.
Tags: dental clinic, dental outreach, Songea, Tanzania
