This is Norbert—he’s nine years old, goes to school, and has recovered well from the effects of an accident two years ago. We’re sharing his story today because it shows how important it is to have access to dental care, even when something unexpected happens.
Norbert has to walk several kilometers every day to get from his parents’ home to school. He was seven years old when he was hit by a motorcycle on his way home from school. A passerby took him to St. Joseph’s Nyabondo Mission Hospital and Trauma Center, where he was hospitalized for several days. X-rays revealed that, in addition to a broken leg, Norbert had suffered a fracture of the lower jaw and injuries to his upper front teeth.
For his family, the accident and the associated medical costs came as a complete surprise. Norbert’s parents support themselves and their children through small-scale farming and a small business. They had just spent part of their disposable income on the children’s school fees, and the family did not have health insurance—which is not uncommon in Kenya. As a result, they were unable to cover the additional costs of the necessary treatments at that time.
Dental Treatment in Nyabondo
At that time, Dr. Marie Sophie Katz, an oral surgeon from Aachen, was working in Nyabondo for Dentists for Africa. Together with the Kenyan team, she treated Norbert’s dental and jaw injuries. After X-ray diagnostics, he received the necessary dental care, including fillings and a splint. His broken leg also needed treatment. Since his family could not afford the associated costs at that time, the mission team decided to cover the costs of the necessary emergency care for his leg.
How is Norbert doing today?
After the treatment, a staff member from Dentists for Africa Kenya stayed in touch with Norbert and his family. We recently checked in on him again and are very happy to hear the good news: Norbert has recovered well from the effects of the accident. He is now nine years old and in second grade. His leg has healed; he only needs a filling in one tooth. The filling is scheduled to be done on a weekend or during a school break so that Norbert doesn’t miss any classes. Two years after the accident, one thing is more important than ever: his normal school routine.
Dental Care Where It’s Needed
Our dental project is not just about treating cavities and toothaches or providing preventive care. Even after an accident like Norbert’s, dental care must be accessible. That’s why Dentists for Africa supports dental care in Western Kenya in collaboration with local Kenyan teams and dentists from Germany who volunteer for several weeks at the DfA dental clinics.
Proceeds from donated dental gold and other precious metals also help us fund this work. Dental practices can collect removed crowns, bridges, and other dental prosthetics for Dentists for Africa with their patients’ consent. Individuals can also donate dental gold and other precious metals directly to us.