Buffalo delivers ‘excellent news to the poor’ in Sierra Leone

I recall the day after I returned from a week-long dental mission journey in Sierra Leone, a rustic on the southwest coast of West Africa. I used to be strolling to work in New York Metropolis. For a second, it felt like I’d by no means been to Kono, a district in Sierra Leone’s war-torn jap province. I’m dwelling in a metropolis with tons of eating places and bakeries round me. I’ve by no means fearful about having sufficient water or electrical energy turning into a luxurious product.

However I used to be there, together with a school member, an assistant and 5 classmates from Buffalo. We left behind our love, hope and optimistic energies to the locals of Kono.

Why I joined the mission journey
I immigrated to the USA in 2011. I got here from a village in China that has some similarities with Kono, the place typically there isn’t electrical energy. (Luckily, water isn’t a priority in my village). At first, I didn’t know the place Sierra Leone was positioned. I used Google maps to seek out it. It’s a largely rural, agricultural-focused nation wealthy in minerals, among the many prime 10 diamond-producing nations. Medical care isn’t readily accessible all through the nation, with medical doctors and hospitals out of attain for a lot of villagers. Dr. Emanuel Gambacorta, a school member on the journey, visited Sierra Leone earlier than the -COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this go to, his purpose was to coach the workers of a well being heart in Kono in order that after we left the information would keep and proceed to learn the neighborhood’s oral well being. This concept is what attracted me to take part within the mission journey.

Earlier than our journey, Dr. Gambacorta shared an article (“Excellent news to the poor”) from a Kono resident who expressed his appreciation of a earlier mission journey. I used to be touched by his phrases however realized the true that means of them after my journey.

Through the mission journey
After a 16-hour flight, we arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This was adopted by a five-hour automobile journey to the Adama Martha Memorial Group Well being Heart in Kono. Phebian Abdulai, a refugee who fled to the USA through the 1991-2002 Sierra Leone Civil Conflict, constructed the well being heart. She turned a nurse in America and returned to Sierra Leone to serve.

We spent our first day attending to know the well being heart and its workers. We launched silver diamine fluoride and fluoride so the workers can present preventive care with restricted information and tools. All workers participated with enthusiasm. You can sense the need to enhance and obtain information to assist their sufferers.

Throughout our keep, we primarily served the locals with easy dental procedures and extractions with restricted tools for the remainder of the week. There have been many heartfelt moments from the journey. One concerned my classmate, Lauren. The day after Lauren handled her affected person, the affected person got here again to the well being heart along with her older sister. The affected person was quiet, taking a look at me and Lauren. I requested if she had any wants. She stared at us shyly and at last requested, “Do you wish to make mates with us?” One other affected person, a younger boy, shared his dream of turning into a health care provider sooner or later.

On our approach again to the airport, we noticed teams of individuals dressing as much as have fun highschool commencement. Dr. Gambacorta stated, “Isn’t it wonderful all of us have fun the identical occasions regardless of the place we’re?” Whereas Sierra Leone appears so completely different from the USA, individuals nonetheless have fun the identical joys and events.

Again in New York
In the course of August, violent protests broke out in Sierra Leone, triggered by the hovering prices of dwelling. It was troublesome to picture just some weeks again I used to be strolling a canine after dinner within the native streets. Every little thing appeared peaceable at the moment. I puzzled concerning the challenges the well being system would face after the protests.

Taking part on this mission journey allowed me to study and develop in my talent. However, most significantly, the journey reshaped my character. If in case you have an opportunity to serve in Sierra Leone, go. It’s a rustic with few dentists. Being there may be the “excellent news to the poor.” The locals have a combating spirit. The seeds we plant will develop and blossom whereas delivering love and hope.

~Ting Xue, Buffalo ’23