Dentistry for the Berber Tribe - Morocco Charity 2010 - Sunderland dentist

Earlier in 2010 I was approached by my good friends Tony and Cally Gedge to support their efforts to set up a brand new dental charity to help people in some of the worlds most isolated areas. Under the banner of Dental Maverick Adventures the idea was to penetrate areas of the world who's healthcare provision was sparse and offer to help with dental care.

The initial project focused on the ancient Berber Tribe in the Rif mountains of Morocco, North Africa.

In all honesty I had my reservations, but it is very easy to find an excuse not to help and so I agreed to join up with a group of dentists from around the UK

Our aims were to help a group of Berber school children with education, simple restorations and extractions where necessary. Planning was difficult and we had to react to the situation we found ourselves in on our arrival.

We departed from Southern Spain on the high speed ferry to N Africa,followed by a mini bus journey into the mountains in the company of our excellent tour guide Domien from Belgium, a top man indeed and priceless to the success of the trip. Our initial stop over was in Chechaouen ( Chef Chowan ), the Blue City of the Rif , a stunning site indeed.

Oozing Arabic character, Chechaouen looks beautiful with its blue painted walls and the quirky streets of the Medina. We were treated to an interesting tour of the city. The sight of women washing their family clothes in the river brought home our displacement from our cosy western lives.

We set off on a six hour trek into the high Rif the following day ending with an overnight stop in the famous trekkers stop off at the Albergue De Azaline, hosted by the wonderful Abdul . In the heart of the illegal hash fields this stop off is a little different to your average Travelodge, but with a degree of hospitality unsurpassed.

Moving on the next day we trekked North to the beautiful God's Bridge , another six hours in the high Rif with small paths and severe gorge drops to focus the minds of one or two of the group, me in particular.A short mini bus journey brought us to the coastal Berber village of  El Jebah. Passing through two towns thriving on the illegal Hash trade was quite an experience, particularly Bab Beret, as wild west as it gets, no eye contact from this dentist !

In El Jebah we met the stunning Berber children of the local school with their severe dental neglect from a sugar dominated diet. A days dentistry for these children, with education , extraction and restoration was extremely moving.Children with nothing, as warm and happy as any you would ever wish to meet.

The lovely children of  El Jebah - Morocco

Heading home the following day I was left to reflect on an experience that would make anyone think seriously about their good fortune living in the affluent west.

I was priviliged to be one of an international team of dentists and doctors from France,Morocco and the UK.

The goodwill I saw will live with me forever with particular mentions to the following people who radiate a desire to help I have never experienced before..

Dr Banani , a French charity worker doing unbelievable work in Africa, a giant of a man.

Luke , the Belgian Ambassador to Morocco, a warm and gentle man oozing goodwill

Domien  our tour guide , I find it difficult to describe the power of this man to make people around him feel good about life - remarkable.

Jas,Chris,Theresa three new friends and excellent dentists. A privilige to be in the Rif with this team.

and Tony and Cally Gedge, who had the vision to drive this project ,make me laugh endlessly and have an infectious energy like no other , two brilliant people.

Team Berber , Morocco , 2010 .   Including doctors, dentists, dental students, Prof of dentistry Casablanca, Pharmacists and assistants to the project.

Thanks also to Jo Barella of Olivers Dental Studio for helping to pull the provisions together for the trip and Chris of Henry Schein for your company's excellent and generous support.

Photographs of the trip to Morocco are available for you to view just click here