Up to 700 prisoners and other vulnerable Rwandans are to benefit from free dental care services, thanks to a charitable mission by an American couple.

The couple, senior dentist Dr. Bill Sasser and wife Susallee Sasser, both from the US’ Christian-based Dental Community Fellowship (DCF), are currently in the country providing free dental services, especially in prisons.

After offering tooth care and extraction services for two days in the Northern Province, the couple on Tuesday moved to Kigali, beginning with dental patients in Kigali Central Prison, commonly known as 1930.

They treated over 100 people on that day, before moving to Remera Prison yesterday. The team has one more week in Rwanda before proceeding to Burundi to conduct the same charitable exercise.

Dr. Sasser said that DCF is partnering with Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR), a local Christian organisation headed by the Bishop of Shyira Diocèse (Northern Province), John Rucyahana.

Both DCF and PFR are Christian organizations dealing in gospel and charitable activities especially with vulnerable groups.

"I believe that if someone is given much, he or she is expected to also give out much as the bible says. My wife and I are blessed and we feel we have to share the blessing we have with others.

"That is why we carry out such voluntary activities that are otherwise very expensive to conduct,” Sasser said.

He added: "Our voluntary work is not about treating many patients in a short time, it’s about saving lives, and giving hope back to those who had lost trust in themselves.”

He also called on Rwandans to always visit dentists saying that, on average, a person needs to visit a dentist once in a year.

The couple also trained Rwandan national Jean Baptiste Ndababonye in dental services during their stay in the country.

Their services include tooth extraction, cleaning and basic restorative care. The Director of Prison Fellowship Rwanda, Deo Gashagaza, said the exercise is also targeting needy people in their homes.

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