Dental problems: Emergency clinic’s pain

But patients seem to be from the poor countries like Cameroon,Kenya,Tanzania,Malawi and Guinea-Bissau,where dental surgery and MRI tests are very expensive. Several requests have been received for the expensive MRI tests,which we can provide only in an emergency,a doctor said.

On Wednesday,Yomba visited the polyclinic to refer a team official who had “pain in the back tooth and swelling”. “The doctors here have recommended tooth extraction,” Yomba said. “The clinic is very nice here,and that’s why I refferred the official to the doctors here,” he said.

Till Wednesday noon,the dental surgery department had treated 125 requests,and doctors said at least 50 per cent of the cases came from African nations. “Many are para-athletes. It is hard to see them suffer,” said a volunteer. A doctor said it is obvious that dental treatment in their countries is very poor. “Their teeth are completely decayed,and there is no option for us but to recommend extraction,” a doctor said. There have also been requests for treatment of tooth and cheek bone fractures.

The 24-hour polyclinic has specialised sections for gynaecology,ophthalmology,ENT and a physiotherapy lab with 14 therapits. It also has a radiology lab,an ultrasound room,a pathology,micro biology micro chemistry lab,a Kerala ayurvedic massage parlour with six masseurs and an intensive care unit with three beds.