German Dentist Association donates €5000 worth of equipment |11 February 2015

The Health Care Agency of the Ministry of Health has received €5000 worth of dental equipment from the German Dentist Association based at Baie Lazare and a benevolent dental company based in Hamburg, Germany.

The donation, comprising a full set of equipment for a dental surgery as well as other essential material used in dental repair, were handed over to the deputy chief executive of the Health Care Agency Dr Danny Louange by Dr Bernd Frishcheisen-Koehler, the vice-chairperson of the German Dentist Association (GDA) in a short ceremony at the Ministry of Health’s headquarters last week which was attended by key health officials.

The GDA has a long and fruitful relationship with Seychelles since 1981. It was initiated by Dr Wolfgang Kaiser in Hamburg, Germany following which a small group of dentists signed a contract with the government of Seychelles on January 24, 1981 to come and work here.

The main objective was to provide primary dental health care for the south of Mahé where at that time no dental clinics were available.
A mobile dental clinic and truck were shipped from Germany to Seychelles.

The well-known ‘caravan’ was stationed for several months in the villages of south Mahé and then moved on to the next one thus covering the districts of Anse Boileau, Baie Lazare, Takamaka, Anse Royale and Anse Aux Pins.

By 1988 the ageing ‘caravan’ was permanently based at Baie Lazare, while dental clinics had been set up at Anse Boileau, Anse Royale and Anse Aux Pins.

In 1991 the caravan had finally outlived its lifespan but the cooperation strengthened.  With the support of the Rotary Club of Victoria and a contribution from the German government, a new dental clinic was built next to the Baie Lazare clinic. Dental materials, instruments and other equipment were provided by the GDA.

Since 1981 more than 60 German dentists have worked here under the cooperation.