End of Year 2019 Updates





Your quarterly guide to HPF’s work to address the needs of those who have fled war and poverty through dignity, service and care.
December 2019

From Humble Beginnings
Health-Point Foundation began providing emergency dental services to asylum-seekers out of the back of a van in 2015. Volunteer dentists would drive around Greece to meet the needs of refugees, setting up wherever they could to relieve pain and suffering. As thousands of new arrivals continued to come to Greece, HPF began using canvas and plywood to put together temporary sites to provide care, eventually opening a more permanent clinic in March 2018, on the island of Lesvos, where the greatest need was. 
Since that time, hundreds of volunteers have come from around the world to help provide thousands of treatments to the many asylum-seekers now in Greece. Through generous donations of time and money from people like you, our two-chair clinic in Moria Camp continues to be the only one offering free dental care to the 18,000+ refugees living there. This clinic, staffed and organized by our Ground Team, has the ability to provide hygienic, high-standard care in a comfortable, clean environment right inside the high fences of this large camp.
Most recently, through a generous donation organized by volunteer dentist Dr. Armin Reinartz, the Braun and Muyrers families of Germany, and the German branch of Secours Dentaire International, two new suction units were delivered via Turkey with the help of Tayna and Kini from our ground team.  Two new dental chairs, donated by Dr. Simon Morris with the assistance of Juliet Bill and Dr. Alex Schafigh, now create a much more comfortable experience for our patients as well. We’ve come a long way since Dr. Ola Hassan first arrived in Greece with three suitcases of dental supplies on December 24th, 2015 and we can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in 2020!

Volunteer Highlight: Translator Abdurrahma*

Abdurrahma recently joined the HPF Ground Crew, providing translation services. Originally from Afghanistan, he worked as a translator and interpreter with psychologists and medical doctors there, and we are happy to have him as a part of the HPF team in Moria Camp.
His bright smile and upbeat personality is making a huge difference in the lives of others and he says he gets just as much in return.  “I LOVE working with HPF.  It is a huge blessing and honor to be a member of such a caring and humanity-serving organization.”
He says one of the primary reasons he enjoys volunteering with us is how much he learns each day in the clinic, and the ability to put his language skills to good use.
“Everyday, when I see that humans come to our clinic with pain and suffering, but leave with comfort, peace and a smile on their face- I get tons of inner joy and satisfaction.”
*name changed

We are always looking for dentists and dental health professionals to volunteer at our clinic.  Do you know someone that might have a week or two to help make a positive difference in the lives of others?  Please share our information found here for potential volunteers!

Help Us, Help Others
in 2020
Your contributions help keep our clinic doors open.  Please consider donating to help make 2020 another impactful year.
 https://www.healthpointfoundation.org/donate/.

Thank you to LUSH Charity Pot, for their recent generous grant to Health-Point Foundation.

© Health-Point Foundation All Rights Reserved. 
Health-Point Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organisation EIN: 81-3436231

Email:  info@healthpointfoundation.org

 

Volunteer Highlight: Alaa Millard

I have always wanted to do humanitarian work, but at times it was a case of lack of free time or resources which impeded me from pursuing it. The position at HPF was an excellent opportunity to pursue this, and when I heard about it, I applied immediately.

I believe that no one has any say on where we are born or the privileged position in which we might be born into. It is merely a case of chance and luck. I put myself i

n a displaced person’s position and think that this could be me if life had dealt me a bad hand. It fills me with warmth when I see the amount of work, effort and dedication that the volunteers have. It makes me think that if I was forced to leave my home because of harsh or adverse circumstances, I would also be welcomed and looked after. 

When we think of aid, we do not necessarily think of dentistry; as we do not think of it as a basic need. However, now that I am working on the ground and I see the conditions people are living in and the amount of patients we see on a daily basis, I have become aware of the impact and relief our work provides to people.

If there is anything worse than living in a flimsy make-shift tent in the cold, rainy and windy days of winter, it is living in those conditions but with a toothache. Toothache is the icing on this misery cake. Nobody should have to endure extra pain while going through the most difficult periods in life. A smile is a person’s signature and no one should feel ashamed to smile or show their teeth because adverse conditions have not allowed them to visit a dentist or keep their dental hygiene. When our patients look at themselves in the mirror after receiving treatment, I can see them regain their smile, which raises their confidence and their spirits.

In the camp, we have an incredible reputation. People genuinely love the HPF staff. They smile and wave at us when we are walking in or out of the camp, offer us food and at times come and hug us to express their gratitude for the work we do. When I see this, I think to myself that they should not be thanking us: they are human beings and they deserve every help that we can offer to make their difficult times, easier.

Working for HPF has made me even more aware of how privileged and blessed I am. It has made me appreciate many of the things I once took for granted. I am inspired every day by the resilience of these people in the face of great adversity. I am surprised by their strength because I believe that if I were in their position I would probably succumb to ennui and despair. But, instead, I see the people for who I work for wake up, put on their best clothes, smile and dance. I see people jogging or exercising, meeting friends, laughing; not denying themselves the simple pleasures in life that we sometimes overlook.

This experience constantly reminds me of the power of the human spirit and has convinced me that life does go on.

I honestly believe people in Moria have helped me more than I have helped them. This experience has taught me more about myself in these past few months, than in the last few years. I am grateful to HPF for giving me the opportunity to help and for the people I have worked for, for allowing me to help.

Introducing HPF’s first Global Ambassador

We are excited to welcome Dr. Rhona Eskander as our first HPF Global Ambassador!
A visionary and philanthropist, she has already done incredible work raising awareness, influencing other and supporting HPF’s mission.  Stay tuned for updates on ways she will expand our network and continue to bring much-needed support for the dental clinic.

 

 

ADVICE WHEN CONTACTING US!

Dear friends,
We would like to inform potential volunteers and supporters that HPF will never ask for any private details/documents to be sent to any email address including our own. Documents are uploaded only on official HPF application forms – which can be found on our website or we can send you the links via our registered email accounts (see below). HPF never make any requests for money or donations via email.
Currently we are ONLY active in Greece. We advise any potential volunteers or supporters to contact us on official channels that are mentioned below and on our website.
This includes our official email addresses:
Or our Facebook page:
Or our Twitter account:
If you wish to check the person who is speaking to you is a genuine HPF staff member, then please contact us on the official channels specified above to check the individuals credentials.
Best wishes,
The HPF Board
Contact Us
info@healthpointfoundation.org

© Health-Point Foundation All Rights Reserved.  Privacy Policy.
Health-Point Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organisation in the USA. EIN: 81-3436231
Health Point Foundation is a Registered Charity in the United Kingom. Registered Charity Number: 1179795