Balibo Dental Clinic, Kitchen and Volunteer Accommodation 

Dear Rotarians

I write to thank you for your wonderful support for the dental clinic, the kitchen and the volunteer accommodation in Balibo. I will be sending out a newsletter next week but I wanted to give you a quick update first. The opening went very well and we managed to get former President and Nobel Laureate – His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta to officially open the clinic and to be the first patient! The clinic looks great – our first dentist Dr David Bladen is a bit shocked at the state of oral health in the area – periodontal gum disease, missing teeth or stumps – so he is performing quite a few extractions and some heavy duty cleaning. The kitchen worked well and Michele and the CLC staff produced great food for the opening. Michele’s accommodation has a good feel to it – there is still some work to be done to get the water flowing etc but she is happy there. Please find attached some photos of the clinic and our dentist David Bladen with an assistant working on a patient – the assistant is a Salesian brother from nearby Maliana who has had some dental training; a Timorese veteran in the chair with Jose Ramos Horta (the veteran had very few teeth left!); the lounge in the volunteer accommodation and the kitchen in full use. Once again without your support we would not be able to provide these vital services to the Balibo community.

Warm wishes

Terry Terry Bracks

Executive Officer Balibo House Trust