Reconnecting the Dots- TMU Service Overseas Provide Free Dental Service in Nepal

In the summer of 2023, Taipei Medical University Service Overseas (TMUSO), whose member includes students, teachers, and doctors, headed for Nepal for the first time in 3 years since the outbreak of COVID-19.

TMUSO stayed for a month to provide free dental service in Nepal’s suburban areas, for example, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, and Lalitpur. When they provided the dental service, the students would do the overall dental examination and identify patients who needed urgent treatment. Following the examination, doctors and teachers would provide further treatments.

Aside from the free dental examination and treatment, students in TMUSO spent a lot of effort teaching health education and designing interactive games in the hope that Nepali children could cultivate proper dental cleaning habits.

Figure 1. & 2. TMUSO members were teaching Nepali children to wash their hands (left). A TMUSO doctor and a student cooperated to examine a patient’s oral condition (right).

A student in TMUSO recalled the challenges they faced while preparing for the journey. “We didn’t have experienced students to lead the team, and the lack of resource and fund made it more challenging for us.” However, upholding the vision “promoting oral health and proper dental cleaning habits to the world,” TMUSO, against all odds, overcame the hardship and managed its way to Nepal.

It’s the assistance from the College of Oral Medicine that makes the free dental service in Nepal possible. The leading teacher of TMUSO shared that their ultimate goal is to make the world need no more dental service. In the future, TMUSO will keep fulfilling its mission and make the vision of promoting oral health a reality.

Figure 3. TMUSO took a photo with local voluntary interpreters in front of Yashodnara Bouddha Secondary School