Gail Bentick gives back to North Leeward community

Thirty years after migrating from the tiny North Leeward village of Rose Bank, one former resident has returned to give back to the community she once called home.{{more}}

Dental hygienist Gail Bentick, along with close to 200 children between the ages of two and 18 years old and their parents, gathered at the Prayer and Faith Assembly Church, for an oral health education exercise last Saturday.

With the assistance of a dental puppet, Bentick demonstrated the proper methods for brushing teeth, the types of toothbrush that should be used and the dos and don’ts of proper dental care.

At the end of the exercise, the youngsters each received a dental kit, containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss. They also received books and

stationary.

Bentick, who was here on a one week visit and returns to the United States tomorrow, said that the exercise was her way of giving back to her community.

The former employee of the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery said that working in under served communities in New York where she resides, encouraged her to do the same for her homeland.

She said that she intends to make the gesture an annual one, and hopes to reach out to other communities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Now employed in private practice, the holder of a Masters Degree in Health Service Administration said that she wishes to see other professionals residing overseas do the same for their communities here at home.

“There are many professionals who come from these areas, who should go back and, if not to hand out something, at least give a pep talk and show that there is an alternative to drugs and crime.”(JJ)