Access to dental care in Afghanistan, which has experienced 30 years of war and poverty, is extremely limited. There is one dentist per 200,000 patients and only one dental x-ray machine in the entire country. In an effort to provide better care to Afghan citizens, the Afghanistan Dental Relief Project, Inc. (ADRP) is in the process of setting up a full service dental laboratory and a dental technology school in Kabul, Afghanistan. It will be training some of the poorest segment of the Afghan population to be dental technicians as well as teaching dental assisting, dental clerical and dental hygiene. The lab and school are recognized by the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health and supported by the Kabul Rotary Club.

Founded in 2003 by Dr. James Rolfe, the ADRP has already established a modern dental clinic in Karte-Char, southwest of Kabul city center. The clinic structure was constructed in California by Dr. Rolfe inside a 40-foot shipping container then shipped to Afghanistan along with 120,000 pounds of dental equipment and supplies. Inside the container are three operatories with an X-ray machine and Cavitrons, a modern sterilization area and a complete laboratory.

ADRP is looking for volunteers to help train these students and for donations of laboratory equipment and supplies. For more information or to make a donation, please visit http://www.adrpinc.org, e-mail adrp@verizon.net or mail to P.O. Box 734, Santa Barbara, CA 93102. All donations are applied entirely to the project.