International Caring Hands is currently developing plans to establish Dental and Medical mobile clinics in several countries.
Several of the board members of International Caring Hands have been involved with low cost dental and or missionary work for most of their adult lives. Our most senior board member, Cedric Lee Hayden has been involved in starting dental clinics in several foreign countries. Other mmbers have operated a low income dental van for years in rural Oregon. These board members are developing a plan to build a dental/medical vans and ship them to foreign countries. The dental/medical van will be operated with volunteer dentists and physicians.
Members if International Caring Hands have visited South Africa this year to assess the need and viability of starting a dental/medical mobile van. They spent three weeks touring South Africa. The needs in this coutry are immense. Eighty percent of the country is in abject poverty. Even though the country has a health care system, many people are left with little or no care especially in the rural areas. In addition to the native poverty, the Congolese refugees have placed a huge burden on the country and these people have no means to get dental/medical care as they do not qualify for health care nor are they allowed to take jobs away from South Africans.
After touring most of South Africa, the province of Cape Town has been selected as the home base for the dental/medical mobile clinic. The main reason for this is the security of the medical teams wishing to participate in volunteer medical work. As the program develops, plans include health care throughout South Africa. This program will be strictly a no fee program.
Now is the time to get involved!
Surprisingly the most difficult aspect of volunteer dental/medical services overseas is obtaining the necessary licensure. International Caring Hands is currently communicating with the health department of South Africa for liscensing. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of volunteering in South Africa, please contact our office to have your name placed on the list for licesnsure.
Plans for the future
During the trip in March of 2011 to build one day churches in Malawi, the directors of International Caring Hands will be assessing the viability of starting a mobile dental van in Malawi or Zambia. Based on the success of obtaining medical/dental licensing in these countries the decision will be made where to locate the mobile van.