Project Smile Train

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department in the Faculty of Dental Sciences at the University of Peradeniya Teaching Hospital was one of the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. People from villages and towns across the country as well as patients from other countries make the journey to the department to receive care from one of the most distinguished teams in one of the most diverse dental wards that offered a variety of services as well as aftercare.

The discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is concerned with diagnosis, surgical and related management of diseases, injuries and defects of both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the oral and maxillofacial region. The dental ward of the Teaching Hospital is the main tertiary center that treat advanced oral and maxillofacial ailments including Oral cancer, Cleft lip and palate, maxillofacial trauma and many other tumours of the maxillofacial region. Therefore,they have a very high patient turnover. Not only patients, but their carers also stay in the ward for long periods of time.

Due to the severity of the surgical treatment, the patients need continuous care, monitoring and a clean environment to prevent cross infections. The treatments done here are done free of charge.

Due to unavailability of-adequate funds from the ministry of health and the University, the ward is not functioning optimally and patient wellbeing is significantly compromised. There are severe problems including a leaky roof and a non centralised oxygen delivery system.The washing machine at the ward is for domestic use and cannot handle the load of scrubs worn by doctors during surgery. The doctors currently work without scrubs. Other needs of the ward are painting of the ward and on call rooms of doctors/nurses, replace damaged doors and toilet-ware and also to purchase a new industrial washing machine and dryer.

Due to these problems, the patients and doctors face health and safety hazards and are unable to give or receive proper care.

Gammadda commenced work on a project to renovate and provide medical equipment to the Faculty of Oral and Maxiofacial Surgery at the University of Peradeniya on 10/12/2022.