Gerry Hopkins of Hopkins Communications Group St. George’s, GRENADA; Oct. 1, 2009 Three officials from New York University’s (NYU) School of Dentistry arrived in Grenada yesterday to meet with Ministry of Health officials and wrap up logistical preparations for a massive dental care outreach project that will locals from January 16 to 30, 2010. Hosted by the Government of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique, this project will be executed as a component of the Ministry of Health’s Primary Healthcare Program. The visitors who met with Grenada’s Health officials -- Minister Ann Peters, Chief Medical Officer Emma Herry Thompson, and the Permanent Secretary Glenna Knights, are NYU’s Dr. Lynwood Bennerson– Project Co-Coordinator, Rachel Hill - Project Co-Coordinator, and Jill Fernandez – Pediatric Clinic Coordinator. Also present at the meeting were the New York-based independent facilitators Gerry Hopkins and Lawrence Thomas. The project’s overall Director, Dr. Stuart Hirsch, and its Public Health Coordinator, Dr. Mark Wolff, were unable to join the current NYU delegation on this visit, which will be the final one before the actual execution of the project. ABOUT THE PROJECT This NYU Dental Outreach to Grenada comes as part of a program which NYU has taken to several other countries/states in the past -- Jamaica, Nicaragua, India, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Tanzania, Alaska and up-state New York. Grenada is currently the only beneficiary in the Caribbean with a service agenda that encompasses comprehensive nation-wide public health assessment. As the official host, the government of Grenada would assist in the provision of housing for the visiting doctors and students (48 altogether) from NYU. Assisting with other logistical arrangements for transportation, promotion and public awareness, and culturally-centered recreational activities for the service providers, are New York City-based Grenadians, Gracelyn Harris, the NYU employee who initially got the university interested in assisting Grenada; media consultant/facilitator Gerry Hopkins, and facilitators Lawrence Thomas, Michael Vincent, and Jerry Edwin. Several local corporations have already pledged their support for this beneficial project via sponsorship of the transportation and hospitality activities planned for the visiting doctors. The list so far includes LIME, LL Ramdhanny & Co., Andall & Associates, Excel Plaza, Rotary International, Rhum Rhunner and Karma. WHAT’S AHEAD? The dental doctors, specialists and interns will be visiting Grenada as service providers between January 16 and 31, 2009. From January 16 to 30, there will be continuous public health assessment, which would involve visits to schools throughout the tri-island state. While from January 23 to 31 the practitioners would be administering dental care, performing surgical procedures and cleanings to the local population – children, working men and women, and seniors, at no cost to everyone. NYU has made a commitment of 4 years to making annual outreach clinic visits to Grenada, one per year. Additionally, The New York based institution is open to extending its offerings to include training of local healthcare providers or para-professionals to perform follow-up preventative dental care, especially for dental assistants. During their meeting with Grenada’s Minister of Health, Hill also announced that NYU is prepared to extend free continuing dental education for dentists practicing in Grenada. The university has already donated eight urgently needed dental chairs, valued at U.S. $64,000.00 to the Grenadian people and government. According to both the NYU and Ministry of Health officials, this dental project is expected to positively contribute to giving Grenadians a healthier and more productive population, consistent with the Ministry of Health’s initiative to educate individuals on the value of preventative care and healthier choices in life.