The dental team visited the beautiful village of Wainikeli, on the eastern side of Taveuni. The head teacher was prepared, the teachers were prepared and so were the children. Lots of rain but that did not deter either the team or the kids from the excitement of the day.
Two days of activity, as you can see from the photos and videos below. Our thanks to the school for their excellent organisation.
Photos and text by Paula Gonebeci
Mrs Radredre – The assistant head teacher of Wainikeli primary school showing appreciation to the dental team & Rotary Taveuni.
Mereoni Seru is a class 8 student of Wainikeli District School. She is 13 years of age. The daughter of Maikeli & Vitalina of Navakacoa Settlement. She is also the head girl of the school. She was so happy to have a Full Mouth Non-Surgical Periodontal Debridement. The mother, who was also present, shows appreciation as she now understood the causes of her bad breath and it is now solved.
This is the type of care that can change a child’s life.
Ema Molikuka is 13 years of age. In class 8 and is from Navakacoa Settlement. She was so happy to have had her teeth filled.
That broad smile tells it all! She is one of about 150 children attending Wainikeli District School.
This young lady’s name is Hannah Wakoloilagi of class 8 Wainikeli District School. She had a one tooth filling and referred to the Taveuni dentist for her root filling. Pictured here with Dr Pete. She asks if the team can come back next year . She is smart & duly making a request for next year’s visit to the school if possible. She is from Muaniwaqa Settlement in Qeleni .
Lovely picture Peter!
Altaleno Sigarara Davuilevu pictured to the right, is in Year 7 and 13 years of age, attending Wainikeli District School.
He is from the settlement of Navakacoa . His father’s name is Joeli Loloma. He was so happy to have his teeth filled. Look at those wonderful teeth!
The boy in the two photos here is Maika Nararavi. Maika is in class 4 of Wainikeli Primary School and is 9 years old. The only child of Vilimaina Vakatovolei of Navakacoa Settlement in Qeleni , Taveuni, he has been sole parented by his mother. The mother who was also present expresses how concerned she was towards her son’s teeth.
She said he is a handsome boy and always worries about her son’s health, especially his teeth as he is getting older and thought that he might have teeth cancer.
Luckily the doctors confirmed that it’s not teeth cancer. He just has weak teeth, and the condition might have been caused by sickness like high fever. He has four permanent teeth filled and strongly advised for daily brushing of his teeth.
Here is Maika Nararavi being happy after he has his tooth cleaned and filled.
He was shy 🙈 but happy. The mother Vilimaina – was even happier as his stained teeth was also fixed. Vilimaina was a patient of Doctor Gary in 2010. She also had fillings & extraction done in 2010
This is a remarkable story of two generations and shows the need for our dental team to keep coming as the years pass.
Go on, play the video, you will enjoy!