Would love to help,
but can't make it this time?
Send a "sub"
Hi there! It's Lynelle writing to you...
Did you know that what an American hygienist earns in ONE DAY (~450) is the equivant to a MONTH of income (after taxes) in Kenya?
I got to thinking, "What if an American (RDH) were to send a Kenyan "sub" for the clinic? They would still provide their services, albeit from afar, but save *thousands* of dollars by not even going themselves!"
And so "SEND A SUB" was born!
Kenya has less than 100 hygienists.
In fact, there is a forward thinking hospital in Nairobi that sponsors students to go to Pakistan for trianing, paying 75% of their tuition and expenses, and hiring them when they return to Kenya, thereby enableing them to pay off the other 25%.
There is no hygiene association in Kenya, but Joab Annette, pictured above, has volunteered to establish one!
He joined us at his own expense, October 2023. Our American team was excited to have him and really enjoyed his personality.
For an American Registered Dental Hygienist to go,
it would be thousands. Now, some can afford that,
and they would want the experience, because, well,
there is a COOL safari afterwards!
But the cost is high. Here's the approximate breakdown.
Of course the loss of income while away would vary
depending on where you live, and how many days
a week you work. But here goes...
$2,400 all transportation, meals during clinic/safari, lodging
$1,100 international airfare (approx)
$3,200 lost income during the two weeks away
Total: $6,700 USD
OR--- for just $450 you can send a sub and still get the job done!
So how did I come up with that number?
I did some calculations. Here are the breakdown of
costs:
$145 - 5 days of missed work x $29 /day (his wages)
$40 - bus fare
$204 - food & lodging for 6 days at the dental camp
$61 - currency exchange, digital transaction fee, meals enroute, swag
Plus, I will connect you with your sponsored Kenyan hygienist for a personal "Thank you" video call on site, if you like.
Why is this important?
​​​​​​​
1) There are less than 800 dentists in all of Kenya. That's 1:33,000 providers to population.
2) Even if there were enough providers, the population cannot afford it.
3) In the area I serve, the value of preventative oral health care has risen by at least 50%! When I first went to their rural area of Kenya, a full 0% of people came for and/or wanted their teeth cleaned. All they wanted was to be out of dental pain. So we did extractions and fillings. But during the first two trips I also did 40 hours of preventative oral health care education to dozens and dozens of people. And, we cleaned teeth on trips 2, 3, and 4. About 800 or more were served in just three trips! So this effort is making an impact!
4) Americans bring candy for children in Kenya and throw it out the windows on their way to the Maasai Mara. These people, and 99% of others, do not have a dentist to fix the cavites that result. There may be an occasional missionary that comes, but how often is that? And what about in the meantime? By "swimming upstream" to prevent problems, it will save a lot of problems for which there are neither providers nor resources to fix.
With the economy tightening it's belt, it is harder to find volunteer hygienists to come from America. Using local hygienists will help tremendously!
So how about it?
Will you "Send A Sub" today?
Click to sponsor
