UPDATED October 19, 1996:
What a deal! We have acquired lots of good used dental equipment that will be trucked by Dr. Jim Johns and his wife Sue to our container warehouse in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area for loading on a 40 foot container that we're shipping to Western Ukraine in early December. The Johns' live in Central Pennsylvania. I just wanted to share this great news with everyone. There is more equipment from the Boston area that we we hope to ship to Pennsylvania to get be shipped in one load to Minnesota.
This amount of dental equipment is going to make great impact in the impoverished and bankrupt conditions existing in Ukraine. Mission Nazareth, a Sabbatarian mission is working closely with the medical people for proper distribution and allocation of the equipment.
Here's what Sue Johns writes to me:
Subject: Fwd: Dental
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 16:03:33 -0400
From: SLJJWJ@aol.com
To: vic@kubik.org
Hi!
Have found 9 dental chairs, 3-4 drill units, lights, X-ray unit with control panel (a newer one than the one I found previously), all kinds of instruments including surgical. I don't know if Lydia filled you in on the filling material (no pun intended) or not. Someone donated 2400 alloy tablets and 13 lbs mercury. This is the same filling materail that would be inthe pre-measured capsules that you already shipped over. The difference is that it has to be put into a dispenser and dispensed into a capsule instead of being premeasured. There seems to be a problem with mercury being shipped as it is a HAZMAT. A dentist here who sets up dental clinics in S.A. said to just put it in the shipment and label it dental materials and not to get specific. the question is do they know how to use it if we ship it?
Give me a call about what you think about the attached transport arrangements, and about the mercury.
We also have 2000 pairs of eye glasses to send.
Call soon,
Sue
PS: A suggestion for explaining to the receiving dentist on how to use the mercury/ alloy dispenser. This would only work if they have VCR access over there. We could make a video demonstrating how to use it- and one of you who speak Ukrainian could dub in the spoken instructions. Just an idea. Let me know what you think.
Take care,
Sue Johns
I have located 9 chairs altogether- don't expect anymore at this point.
UPDATED September 6, 1996:
We have leads in two areas on GREAT SOURCES of equipment....in Pennsylvania and Boston! At this point we're set if we can get this shipped over. Thanks to everyone for such an enthusiastic response!!!!!!
UPDATED September 3, 1996:
Here are a few exciting updates from responses we've heard from the original request which is below.
First, Jim and Suzan Johns of central Pennsylvania have launched and effort to locate chairs, drills and other dental equipment. Jim Johns is a dentist and an elder in the United Church of God. Suzan has written letters to over 60 area dentists asking that they help locate used and unneeded equipment. This is great news!
You can contact the Johns' on email by clicking on one of the two lines below:
AOL SLJJWJ@aol.com cc:Mail Jim_Johns@ucg.org
Secondly, here in the Terre Haute Church John Wesely is in the process of acquiring some old-style dental drills.
All these items are in GREAT demand in Ukraine. These will be sent to Sabbatarian Mission Nazareth who will use this equipment with the local doctors and dentists in helping the local community.
August 20, 1996
My Original Request:
Sorry for sounding a bit bold. One of the persistent requests from Ukraine is the need for dental equipment. These people are cautious about what they ask, but in this case their request reflects the desparate need for equipment and materials for basic dental care that no one is able to provide. The government is virtually bankrupt.
On a container going to Western Ukraine we are shipping some dental tools and materials for filling cavities. We need more help.
The request has been for a dental drill and chair. Actually, it's difficult to get that type of equipment piecemeal. A dental chair is integrated with the drill and other equipment.
Do you know of a dentist who is about the replace his equipment with new? Does anyone know of any society that deals with used dental equipment? Would anyone be willing to help me with the legwork in trying to locate these valuable humanitarian supplies.
The cost of a dental setup is high...it can exceed $100,000. We can actually get an entire dental office for $10,000 but are looking for something less than that. This type of item is an approved item that can be shipped via container. There would be not cost for shipment.
If you have any information of how we can help fulfil this desparate need, please contact by clicking on this line. You may also FAX me at 317 216-0804.
Your help would be most appreciated! By the way, we are shipping nearly $2000 worth of dental tools and filling material in the container shipment leaving the first part of September.
Thank you!
Victor Kubik