Daily Sound Article:

Nov. 06, 2007

AFGHANISTAN DENTAL PROJECT HITS BUMPY ROAD

By Eric Lindberg
Daily Sound Staff Writer

A little over a year ago, local dentist James Rolfe shipped enough supplies
and equipment to Kabul Afghainstan to set up a dental clinic, school and
volunteer care center.

But after he went to Afghanistan to receive the shipmentand start putting
together the project, he ran into some unexpected issues.

"I found that the people who were supposedly helping me were trying to
steal the shipment," Rolfe said. "I was really desperate to make this
project happen, so I forged some documents and shipped the whole
thing back to the United States."

After lining up another property and spending three months wrangling with
the Afghan government, he finally managed to ship the supplies back with
the support of the Kabul Rotary club.

"Because I had so many delays, I have lost most of the volunteers to help
set it up, "I've really spent myself into a hole."

With 120,000 pounds of equipment, Rolfe estimates it will take a team
of ten volunteers about a month to unload it, sort it all out and
construct the prefabricated clinic,lab and school. He plans on leaving
for Afghanistan Sunday and is calling for volunteers and monetary
donations to support the project.

Rolfe initiated the Afghanistan Dental Relief Project in 2003 to
provide basic dental care and train dentists and assistants in a
city that has no running water or electricty and boasts an
average lifespan of 43 years.

"The people of Afghanistan were basically abandoned by the United
States after they defeated the Soviet Union," Rolfe said. "... I
feel like I have to be an example of what people should do. The
power rests with each individual person."

With 20 complete dental rooms - consisting of x-ray machines, drills,
dental chairs and supplies - Rolfe envisions a center that offers
free care including x-rays, fillings, cleanings and extractions
to Afghan citizens while training orphans, widows and
handicapped people in dental work.

"These are the people who are really at the bottom of the pile,"
Rolfe said. "They really don't have a chance, because they don't
have any family, they don't have any skills."

To cover the costs of offering free dental care, the center will
charge for complicated procedures and care for those who aren't
citizens, such as embassy personnel and foreign diplomats.
Rates will run about the same as those charged in Dubai, he
said, the nearest city that offers a modern dental clinic.

Rolfe plans to stay in Kabul for a month as the project takes
form before returning to the United States, leaving the dental
center in the hands of project managers. He estimates the
minimal cost of the setup effort alone to top $50,000, not
to mention the shipping and storage expenses.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have come out of his own
pocket to keep the project moving forward.

"Afghanistan is not the top priority for many people," Rolfe
said, "but the more chaotic and troublesome it gets over
there, the more I feel like going."

Tax deductible donations can be made to the nonprofit
organization at WWW.ADRPINC.ORG, where details on
volunteering can also be found. For more information,
visit the website or call 805-963-2329.

Click here to view scanned article (pdf)

Please access our website, www.adrpinc.org.

Thank you for your interest.
James G. Rolfe, DDS; Founder
Afghanistan Dental Relief Project, Inc.