West African Humanitarian Efforts with Hispanic International Mission
From October 1st to 11th, 2024, a delegation of 14 members from the Hispanic International Mission (HIM), under the leadership of Dr. Aidee Nieto-Herman, organized the 3rd Humanitarian Mission to West Africa – Cape Verde. The mission took place at the Hospital of St. Francis of Assisi on São Filipe Island. The team included dental assistants, dental students, general dentists, and a periodontist, along with two Cabo Verdean citizens living in the U.S. One is a dental
assistant at Boston University, and the other is staff of Dept. of Oral Surgery at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Their help in organizing the mission and providing translation services was invaluable. During the mission, 584 patients received dental care, including oral diagnosis, prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, sealants, operative treatments, and extractions. Cape Verde, particularly the city of Fogo Island – San Felipe, is experiencing a severe oral health
crisis. There are no dental schools in the country, and only three dentists are available on the island, all of whom graduated from universities in Brazil, Portugal, and China. The situation has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Nieto-Herman, who also led missions in 2014 and 2018, observed that the Hospital of São Filipe, which was the only facility providing dental care, has been without a dental director for over a year and a half. On October 3rd, Cape Verdean television TVC conducted an interview to the leader of HIM, Dr. Aidee N. Herman, highlighting the nation’s pressing need for dental care and the warm response to the humanitarian efforts.
Tufts international student IS27 Karla Romo, staff member Ninfia Fidalgo from the Department of Oral Surgery at Tufts, Dr. Aidee Nieto-Herman, Associate Professor from Periodontology Department at Tufts Dental School, and the 14 HIM delegates representing the following countries:
Mexico (3), Venezuela (2), Iran (1), Ecuador (1), Peru (1), Cape Verde (2), Libya (1), Dominican Republic (3), and (2) from Cape Verde.