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HVO Partners with ADA to
Rebuild Dental Practices in Haiti |
[Washington, DC - July 22, 2010] Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) is pleased to announce that it will partner with the American Dental Association (ADA) to aid in rebuilding dental practices in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital.
Prior to the earthquake of January 12th, Haiti had the lowest ratio of dentists in the western hemisphere (350 for Haiti's population of 9 million). The massive destruction caused by the earthquake destroyed many dental offices, reducing even further the possibility of access to oral health care.
 HVO and ADA's Division of Global Affairs will partner in the initiative, "Adopt-a-Practice: Rebuilding Dental Offices in Haiti." The goal is to raise $300,000 by the end of this year which will be used to rebuild offices and to purchase equipment. Donations are being accepted online here, by telephone at (202) 296-0928, or by mail to: Health Volunteers Overseas, 1900 L Street, NW #310, Washington DC 20036. Checks should be made payable to "Health Volunteers Overseas" with a note on the memo line: "ADA/HVO Haiti."
Health Volunteers Overseas is a strong promoter of oral health care in developing countries. Last year, the HVO Oral Health Initiative was launched with the sponsorship of the ADA and AAOMS (American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) to build on HVO's existing global programs and strengthen efforts in dentistry, dental public health, and oral surgery.
 "The devastation of Haiti's limited dental services was severe. As oral health is such a vital factor in basic health care, this initiative to assist in rebuilding dental practices will make a significant impact in helping Haitians," said David Frost, DDS, MS, co-chair of HVO's Oral Health Initiative and Board Chair Emeritus. HVO's Executive Director Nancy Kelly, MHS, stated, "I am so pleased to be working with the ADA to address this need in Haiti and hope that the country's oral health care component can be fully functioning by this time next year."
A private, non-profit organization, HVO was founded in 1986 to improve global health through education. HVO designs and implements clinical and didactic education programs in child health, primary care, trauma and rehabilitation, essential surgical care, oral health, blood disorders and cancer, infectious disease, nursing education, and wound management. In more than 25 resource-poor countries, HVO volunteers train, mentor, and provide critical professional support to health care providers who care for the neediest populations in the most difficult of circumstances. For more information about volunteering, visit the HVO web site.
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