$7k dental X-ray machine

A CASUAL dinner between volunteers of Rotary Clubs held last year has resulted in the hand over of a $7000 dental X-ray machine to the Savusavu Hospital.

The Rotary Club of Savusavu received the machine from Philippe Lamoise and Dugan Moore, two visiting Rotary Club members from the US who were on holiday in Savusavu in August last year.

“The two looked up the Rotary Club of Savusavu and we all went out for a very good dinner at the Savusavu Wok and enjoyed telling each other about the Rotary work they were involved with,” said Delia Rothnie-Jone, Savusavu club president.

“It caught the imagination of the visitors and they went back to their club in California, the Rotary Club of Del Mar and set about fundraising.

“And now, six months later, that casual dinner has resulted in a magnificent donation of a portable dental X-ray machine that will greatly enhance the capacity of the dental unit of Savusavu.”

Mrs Rothnie-Jones said the medical team in Savusavu serve about 14,000 patients a year and were constantly out in the field visiting schools and remote communities.

“They are now thrilled with the arrival of this machine.”

Medical officer in-charge Dr Ricky Drish told the kind donors the machine would enable his team to improve their care enormously giving them the tools to examine and diagnose dental health issues both at the clinic and out in the field.

“Prior to this we have had no X-ray capability so exams and repair work were solely based on visual inspection,” he said.

“Better and more precise dental care will save many teeth that would otherwise be lost. Similarly, early diagnosis of childhood issues will let our patients preserve their teeth into adulthood.”