The Hope Foundation's (HOPE) Mobile Dental Clinic, an outreach project of Hope Hospital, set up in 2023, continues to provide free and accessible oral healthcare to some of Kolkata’s most vulnerable populations including street connected children.
The project focuses on prevention and developing a sustainable model for oral healthcare delivery that can be implemented at the district level in West Bengal. Addressing the stark disparities in dental care access between urban and rural areas, it focuses on street dwellers, slum communities, and remote regions of Kolkata where organised dental services are virtually non-existent.
The fully equipped mobile clinic offers essential treatments, including dental check-ups, scaling, extractions, and fillings, to approximately 10,000 children and adults.
Why this initiative matters:
By creating a sustainable, district-level model for mobile dental care, HOPE is improving oral health outcomes for Kolkata’s street children, slum dwellers, and rural populations—ensuring that financial constraints and geographic barriers no longer stand in the way of essential dental care.
The project provides essential dental care to 7,000 patients annually at just £4 per person, but continued support is vital to sustain the service. Additional donations are needed to ensure that this life-changing care continues to reach those who need it most. Anyone wishing to donate should visit https://www.thehopefoundation.org.uk/donate/
Distributed by Pressat
Additional Contact(s):
Juliette Whittaker, juliette@thehopefoundation.org.uk
