San Antonio Health and Dental Support Initiative

Early in 2011, Dr. John Snively, a volunteer ICO dentist, travelled to San Antonio. His purpose, as well as offering dental education and carrying out basic procedures, was to assess the dental needs of communities around Lake Atitlán. He found enormous needs, not just in untreated teeth, but in knowledge about basic dental hygiene and the importance of good nutrition.

In January of 2010, Dr. John returns to Atitlán, this time with a state-of-the-art mobile dental clinic, purchased with funds from Nelson and Oak Bay BC Rotary Clubs. With him is a committed team of dental professionals and educators to carry out the work. The dental unit is small enough to go by lancha (the boats that ply Lake Atitlán) and the back of pick-up truck, and will reach remote communities around the lake – communities who up until now have had no dental care. Dental education and nutrition will be the key elements in the programs being presented to schools and womens' groups. For many, this will be their very first encounter with professional dental care. 

You can help! Your donations will help transport the dental unit to communities around the lake, and also to pay for supplies needed to keep the service going.

The plan is that the dental unit will be available for use by other volunteer dental teams going to Guatemala at different times during the year. We encourage you to inform your family dentist of this opportunity to participate in this service.

Dr. John Snively's Dental Education in San Antonio

Dr. John and his assistant Jacqueline teach about nutrition in the pueblo of La Cruz, Atitlán

Many of the small lakeside communities lack basic dental services. The mobile dental clinic will make an enormous difference in the region.