3 September
Barcarena

Graham E. Catchpole reminisces.....

"I will never go on another expedition without a dental surgeon!"

It was these words by Jim Masters that led to my decision to join Kota Mama for four months. I am now very glad that I joined, as I have been able to help with numerous dental problems in these remote regions of South America, where the inhabitants have no recourse to dental assistance.

Anyone who has suffered from toothache will vividly remember the pain associated with it. However, in these riverside villages I have found that the people have, out of sheer necessity learnt to endure high levels of pain. Their immune systems are also able to resist infections more effectively based on the minimal use of antibiotics.
During these last four months I have extracted over 1100 teeth from more than 600 people. Approximately half the extractions were carried out during the first stage of the expedition, while we were in Bolivia. I have brought with me some basic equipment from the UK and have received generous donations of local anaesthetic. I find that the buzzwords around the villages are "free, gratis" and "with anaesthesia".

Take away that dental chair
I have carried out teeth extractions in the most unbelievable locations. Teeth can be taken out anywhere and I have on several occasions proved this to be true. My most memorable moments have been extracting teeth while floating down the River Beni on a log raft, on the bridge of a Bolivian naval vessel, outside a mud hut, inside a church, and on the quay five minutes before the boat was to take off!! My 1000th extraction was most appropriately on the bow of the HQ boat Captain Azevedo, at the confluence of the Rio Madeira and the Amazon River!

Dental examinations often took place in communities with limited facilities. The whole process usually turned out to be a public spectacle with many people crowding around to view what they considered to be entertainment! Quite often potential patients had to be turned away for lack of time.

That unforgettable kid
My most memorable experience on this trip? One in particular stands out quite clearly. While we were travelling in the delta of the Amazon we stopped at a medium sized town and I approached a small boy to ask him where the local 'dentista' could be found. His directions were rather vague and I resorted to sign language to ask him to take me there. After visiting the local dentist, this 9-year old boy and I embarked on our 'one-day' friendship. He took me around the town carrying my camera case proudly and he sat in the hospital dental surgery twice. I asked him to take me to see his mother, which he did. The family consisted of his grandmother, mother, her sister and about seven children ranging in age up to 15 years. I didn't see any male family members around! Their home was a wooden hut in a poor state of repair, built on stilts to prevent flooding. His mother had had given birth to nine children but it was unclear as to how many had survived. Seating consisted of settling down on the floor, but they did have some modern amenities such as a TV, gas cooker and some electric lights. They slept in hammocks and seemed happy enough.

I ended up taking a permanent tooth out for my young friend, which went against my father's advise of "Never make your friends your patients". But this lad was an absolutely fine and brilliant patient. In fact his auntie, very much more apprehensive than he was, let me remove one tooth and three roots. I think of this little boy often and wonder what the future holds for this likeable 9 year old?

Looking back on my time here on the river, I feel very privileged to have been in a position to contribute to the communities we have met. I would urge any colleagues reading this to consider doing similar work at some stage of their professional career. It is without doubt very different to our normal routines and yet so very refreshing. I personally have found the whole experience to be incredible fulfilling.