The project “The Right to Smile Kathmandu”, carried out in 2016 by Doctors for Peace in collaboration with the local partner Benchen P.D. Monastery, was a social dentistry intervention, aimed at improving the oral health of the Nepalese population. In particular, the project has strengthened the services offered by the Free Clinic of the Benchen P.D Monastery in Kathmandu, through: the provision of free dental care to the needy population, the training of health personnel and the provision of health services and materials.
Access to dental care and oral disease prevention measures is denied to many Nepalese in poverty due to the lack of public health coverage and the high costs at private clinics (where 100 euros are required per dental session, in a country with an average monthly income below this figure).
From February to November 2016, 1100 free dental visits were offered to over 760 beneficiaries, with an average of 110 accesses per month. Traditional dentistry services have been provided: dental hygiene and prophylaxis, conservative therapy, endodontics and periodontology. In addition, Doctors for Peace has carried out 3 training courses, conducted by specialist volunteers, for 23 students in the third and fourth year of the Nepal Medical College (Jorpati, Kathmandu).