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GUATEMALAN HEALTH CARE
Dental and Health care is non-existant for many of the becadas. The Guatemalan government does provide public hospitals, but either the patients must bear much of the cost or it is non-existant. Medicines are not affordable.
Dental care is never provided, so children will start losing teeth at 3 years old and permanent teeth by 4-15 years old. We have had 15 year old applicants in need of extensive extractions and dental plates.
OUR DREAM FOR DENTAL CARE
When we had dental teams, we were able to provide dental care to scholarship girls and their families. Families sacrifice in order to give their girl the opportunity of education. This was one way to say thanks to the family.
In 2009, we no longer could take volunteer dentists to our nearby clinic, so reached an agreement with new dental graduate. Mayling. In exchange for the equipment she needed, she would provide dental care for the scholarship girls. The families were out of the system.
Each new applicant in 2010 needed on average some 25-30 fillings plus four needed partial dental plates. The material expense had us scrambling to meet the need.
Our dream is to have enough supplies, so the expense of providing for family member is affordable. Each scholarship girl will receive a voucher for so much dental care value based on her grade point average. It is hoped:
DENTAL SUPPLY DONOR STARS