Kageno Blog

Making Dental Health a Priority

In early September, Mr. Sylvester Bahuviyumvira, a journalist from the main Rwandan daily national newspaper. He now plans to publish a series of articles about Kageno and our programs. This first one is about the Banda SL Nursery School that we run. Translation provided by Kageno Rwanda staff member, Levi Ngilimana. Original article here.

*****

After it was noticed that many people in different sectors in the district of Nyamasheke have been suffering from dental problems, they can now affirm that there is a hope as they can learn from their children who have the chance to receive education on dental health at school.

This education is provided by “Kageno Rwanda” a Non Government Organisation which has initiated a program in Banda Cell, Rangiro Sector to educate young children on dental hygiene.

The country representative of this organization in Nyamasheke District, Levi Ngilimana states that the implementation of this program was recommended by Dr Frank Andolino the Executive Director of Kageno Worldwide who himself is a specialist in the matter as a dentist, after a survey that concluded that many people in Banda area were suffering from dental diseases.

As result from the assessment it has been noticed that dental diseases among other health problems have been affecting people in this district, this specialist (dentist) decided to help with implementing a Nursery School and a Health Clinic in Banda although the clinic does not yet have the ability to provide dental care service.

Then Dr. Andolino initiated the health dental program through hygiene education in the nursery school which hosts 300 children hoping this should bring a positive impact on dental health among family members where they live.

Levi Ngilimana said that “Every child in this school owns his proper tooth brush, well protected and kept under his name, and after every lunchtime/meal students have to clean their teeth, and this has been a usual habit in this school for now over 5 past years. And as they are used to do the same in their families we believe that in a near future dental disease may become a matter of history within this community”.

Nyiransengiyumva Yvonne one of teachers at SL Nursery School can affirm that dental hygiene has become a very important lesson in this school.

She said:”Children came up to change the mindset of their parents asking them to always clean their teeth after taking their meals in the same way they have been taught at school. And now many parents have acquired the habit to brush their teeth as much as they can.

Mr. Misago Ezechiel a parent who has a child attending this school has confirmed that he can now brush his teeth as his child used to remind him every morning.

The Executive Secretary of Banda Cell, Mr Nzabonimana Jean Paul said that from this program they expect a good impact on dental health in this community especially among old people who still seem the most suffering from this disease.

Among challenges that are still noticed is that for number of people in this community the attitude change seem still far away with regard to dental care matter, some of them urging that cleaning their teeth every day especially while using tooth paste should make their teeth so hard that it should be very difficult to remove them when required.

*****

Interested in learning more about Kageno and the work we do? Join us at our annual Harambee in NYC on October 17th.

Sex for Fish - J.D. Rush

J.D. Rush wrote the below in 2005, relatively soon after Kageno began our work. We're revisiting the phenomenon of Jaboya, or Sex for Fish, as our theme for this year's Harambee. Learn more about the event and join us if you can.

——      ——      ——     ——      ——      ——      ——      ——      ——     ——      ——      ——         

Starting with a seemingly larger-than-life, African sky, the scenery on Kenya’s Rusinga Island is breathtaking.  Cast your eyes downward slightly to nearby Kolunga Beach where the rolling hills meet Lake Victoria’s royal-blue water and it could be the setting for an exotic safari—until you take a deep breath.

The smell of dead fish burns your nose.

As your eyes fall further down, white gulls line tin roofs waiting for a chance to swoop—reminiscent of the ominous, final scene in Hitchcock’s The Birds.   The only available walking paths are thin trails between fish drying in the sun—their bellies shining like aluminum. 

There’s no electricity, running water, adequate housing, or even a nearby medical facility. 

And, literally shoveled aside amidst the overwhelming poverty, people are dying in record numbers.

The beach town is one of many fishing villages within Kenya’s Nyanza Province visibly ravaged by poverty and the effects of HIV/AIDS.