|
|
Jamaica Journals 2001
Tuesday, July 17
Dr. Griffin with a coffee factory employee |
| This morning, after a quick tour of a local Blue Mountain coffee factory, we arrived at the clinic to a group of about 30 patients. However, the electricity hadn't been restored from the day before. We were about to set up chairs outside so that we could at least perform extractions, but then the power came back on, so we were back in business. |
| Nine hours later we had seen 49 patients and had performed 79 extractions, 11 fillings and 8 cleanings. The students performed much of the treatment, and they would call on either Dr. Carney or me if a situations arose that was beyond their comfort zone. |
Group photo at the coffee factory |
| | The younger (second-year) students for the most part are pretty tentative in the treatment they provide, and understandably so, since this is their first exposure to treating real, live patients. They are spending most of their time assisting the older students and the doctors, along with handling the sterilization and supply inventory responsibilities. |
Our team, waiting for power to be restored, with prospective patients |
| After dinner this evening several of us spent some time in "downtown" Mavis Bank, about a 5-minute walk from where we are staying. We were hoping to get to know some of the local folks, and we were not disappointed. There was a nearby church service which ended at about 10pm, | | and some of the attendees ended up socializing with us until close to midnight. The exuberance and joy of most of those we met was truly remarkable. | |
Lenox was a 15-year old who volunteered his time at church playing the keyboard. He was very quick-witted, and he usually got the best of the good-natured verbal zingers that were exchanged between the Jamaicans and the Americans. He had a bright, contagious smile that looked almost electric against his dark complexion.
| 
Two young men in particular really caught my attention, Lenox and Otis. Dr. Griffin with three patients who hope the power comes back on soon! |
| 
Otis and Lenox outside the dental clinic |
| His inseparable companion Otis was probably a bit older, and he had aspirations of some day becoming an engineer. As I looked around the primitive area which he called home, it seemed almost inconceivable to me that he could ever achieve such a lofty goal, yet I know from the Bible that with God all things are possible.
|
Next day, July 18
|
