New mobile dental clinic for Waitakere schools

2 August 2004

New mobile dental clinic for Waitakere schools

The dental health of Waitakere children is set to receive a big boost with the introduction of a mobile dental clinic service to the area.

The clinic is run by the Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) and is similar to other mobile clinics operating in Auckland and Manakau cities.

Funding for the mobile unit was provided by a generous donation of $140,000 from the Waitakere Licensing Trust and the Portage Licensing Trust via the West Auckland Health Services Foundation.

ARDS North West Dental Manager, Belinda Tafua, is extremely grateful for the money put forward by The Trusts.

“It’s wonderful that we are now able to offer this service to children in the West,” says Belinda.

The clinic has two identical sides - each with a dental chair - and will be manned by two therapists.

“Having two therapists working out of the clinic means we can provide a more efficient service,” says Belinda.

The clinic was blessed by Waitemata DHB’s Maori Health service on July 26 in a ceremony involving representatives from The Trusts, ARDS, the Foundation and Swanson Primary School – the first school to benefit from the clinic’s mobile service.

Swanson’s principal, Kay Wight, says the new clinic, with its brightly painted exterior and friendly interior design will be a much more welcoming place to receive dental care than the school’s previous in-house clinic.

“It will be exciting for kids to have a brand new place to go,” says Mrs Wight.

The van will provide dental care to various schools in the Waitakere district.

ENDS

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