Imanite

I bet you are wondering what the heck Imanite means? Well, now that I have your attention, I’ll tell you. It is the Haitian Creole translation for Humanitarianism. I chose to use that translation for my article on humanitarianism because Haiti is in need of and has been the recipient of more humanitarian aid in the western hemisphere in recent times than any other country. Humanitarianism has been around since the dawn of mankind. Religious texts are full of admonitions and examples of good works of helping the poor and needy. Henri Dunant, a Swiss businessman and social activist who began a relief response to help wounded soldiers in the 1859 Battle of Solferino during the second Italian war of independence, is considered the father of modern humanitarianism. Dunant set about a process that led to the Geneva Convention and the establishment of the International Red Cross.

Humanitarianism is the universal work. It crosses all cultural and generational boundaries. It is socioeconomic free. Everyone knows what it is and is capable of participating to one degree or another despite one’s skills, talents, or abilities. We all have the power to give something we possess to those in greater need, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. Humanitarian work allows one to become a servant of the damned, provider to the dispossessed and inspirator to the depressed and hopeless. I began going humanitarian work 25 years ago. My passion for it grew out of the circumstances of my upbringing, I was one of five children of a single parent. Times were difficult and the only male role models I had were outside my house. Fortunately for me, three of them were dentists. The first one was my family dentist, Dr Max Conley. He was always kind and encouraging to me and set a good example of a providing family man. He also provided dental care to my family for free or at a discounted rate and allowed my mother to pay off our dental bills over time without charging penalties or interest. Second, was Dr Mel Erickson, he was my best friend’s dad. He included me in many of his family activities and paid for many other youth activities that I could have never afforded on my own. He also taught me the value of an education and the power it gave to help those less fortunate. The third one was a good friend and mentor, Dr Craige Olson. As I progressed through my undergraduate years of college, he was there to encourage me and help me prepare for my dental education. I’m sure these men have no idea how much they influenced my life. I will forever be grateful for their support and kindness towards me. There are many reasons why people get involved in humanitarian work. For some it is just inherent in their nature. They have strong convictions to share their talents and money with those in need. Others may have family or ancestors from poor or devastated countries. Some may have served church missions or have members of their faith in underserved regions. For others who have been the recipient of humanitarian efforts, it is simply to give back. Early in my career I recognized that without the influence of these men in my life I would not be where I was, and it created in me a great desire to give back. I chose humanitarian work as the vehicle for my giving. Over the years I have provided humanitarian dental work to the poor and dispossessed in many countries. In Nepal, I trekked to remote villages and taught women how to clean and pull teeth. In Bulgaria, I provided dental care to forgotten children in orphanages. In the Dominican Republic, I have traveled to remote villages where the people have never been treated by a dentist in their life and don’t have the resources to go to a clinic in the cities. I have taken over 3000 individuals on humanitarian trips of which 2000 were dental students from around the world.

Humanitarian dental work generally provides relief or assistance to people or individuals affected by conflicts, disaster or poverty, thus improving lives and reducing suffering. It focuses on patients with basic or primary needs, instead of the latest and greatest technologies. Humanitarian dental work can result in many things besides just providing care to the poor and needy. It can provide a valuable teaching and mentoring experience for dental students. It can be a bonding experience for family and staff who participate. It can encourage or confirm for individuals to pursue a career in health care. It can teach appreciation for what we take for granted by showing the impoverished living conditions that the majority of the world live under. It will most likely engender a spirit of humanitarianism in the participants. I have had individuals tell me that participating in these trips is the most rewarding things they have done in their lives. For the recipients of humanitarian dental treatment, the results can be life changing and long lasting. First and foremost, it can relieve and eliminate pain and disease. It can provide education needed to prevent future need for treatment. By restoring and improving a person’s dentition they can obtain a better education, secure better education, secure better employment and help attract a suitable mate.

Of course, there are many risks associated with doing humanitarian work. One of the risks is being bitten by a mosquito and being infected with the Zika virus or developing Dengue fever. But more than anything else, you will probably be bitten by the humanitarian bug and come down with humanitarian fever, which is the hardest fever of all to get out of your system. In the next few issues of the UDA Action, I will share how to get involved in humanitarian work, identify local and national organizations that offer humanitarian opportunities, how to start your own humanitarian project and to populate the classified website tab with more Imanite information. Dr Len Aste UDA Treasurer