A course in emergency dental care training for refugee health providers: An answer to dental care access in a long-term refugee camp, Tanzania 2007

Oral health services in long-term refugee camps have very limited resources and lack the skilled work force necessary to address the needs and demands of the refugee population. Although dental diseases and oral pain are highly prevalent among refugees, their oral health care needs continue to go unaddressed. Oral health remains alienated from the general health care provided by NGO's, Government institutions or the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In November of 2007, a dental team of four dentists, supported by the American Dental Association (ADA), Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) and the Tanzania Red Cross (TRC), provided training to the refugee health providers in Mtabila refugee camp in Tanzania. The dental needs of refugees in this camp had been assessed previously and suggested a very high need for preventive and curative interventions. None of the dental care providers within Mtabila camp had any formal dental training prior to the team's arrival.

After initial observation of the type and quality of care being provided, a comprehensive course in Emergency Dental Care was developed and taught over a two week period to the dental care providers. The authors observed that even a short course such as this had a significant impact on the access to and quality of dental care available within the camp. The authors believe this course can be duplicated and utilized in other refugee camps to have a similar impact and become an integral part of the overall healthcare system within such camps.