MELVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein Halas, the Australian dental business of Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, announced today the donation of oral health care products and equipment to 'Youth With A Mission Medical Ships - Australia (YWAM MSA)' through Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global corporate social responsibility program. Based in Townsville, Australia, YWAM MSA brings free health care by ship to underserved populations in Papua New Guinea, including oral screenings and treatment. Since 2010, Henry Schein Cares has donated oral care supplies and equipment to YWAM MSA valued at more than $300,000.
For three and a half years, YWAM MSA has performed over 11,500 dental procedures and over 129,000 community, training, and health outreach missions in Papua New Guinea. With only 32 dentists in all of Papua New Guinea, local dentists as well as dentists from neighboring Australia and around the world have come to work at YWAM MSA clinics.
"Henry Schein Halas is honored to support YWAM MSA's important and impactful work to provide care for thousands of patients in need in Papua New Guinea," said Gordon Anderson, General Manager, Henry Schein Halas. "We are proud of our long-term partnership with YWAM MSA through our Henry Schein Cares program, and we look forward to continuing to join forces to improve the lives of thousands for many years to come. We are also grateful for our supplier partners and their support of this program, including Kerr Australia, 3M ESPE, GC Australasia & Hu-Friedy."
With the help of the donations from Henry Schein Halas, the Australian YWAM medical ship set sail to the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea in May to provide access to dental care for thousands of Papua New Guinea locals who would not otherwise have been able to get the essential oral care they need.
"Even when people do find the means and the ways to get to these clinics, they arrive and often there are just no supplies," said Hannah Peart, Medical Coordinator of YWAM MSA. "Thanks to donations made by Henry Schein Halas, YWAM MSA has now fully stocked and refurbished their onboard clinic, creating efficiency and improved functionality for dentists along with better access to supplies."