Surgeon and maxillofacial surgical trainee from Newcastle upon Tyne Dr Andrew Bartram, currently in his fourth year of dental studies at Trinity College Dublin, is a medical officer and volunteer work officer for the Amchi programme. Amchi aims to make a sustainable difference to the oral health of the people of Ladakh, India.

In August 2012 44 dentists, dental students and associated health care workers from 14 countries and four continents, including a number from various parts of the UK, travelled to Ladakh to take part in project Amchi. The project was a collaboration between the European Dental Students Association, Manipal University in India and Wisdomtooth, an American NGO.

Amchis are Buddhist nuns who are the local healthcare providers in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, Northern India. In an area the size of Britain with a population of 180,000, there are four dentists working in only one location. Due to the mountainous terrain, extreme weather and high altitude the majority of the population of the region cannot access dental care for much of the year. Thus the burden of care falls upon the Amchis who have no training in dealing with oral disease.

Dr Bartram explains that 'the goal of the Amchi programme is to correct this deficit, train the Amchis in line with the WHO ART programme and empower them to help their fellows, making a self sustainable improvement in the health of the local population.'

In August the project began the process of training the Amchis and treated over 1,200 people in seven days.

For further information on the Amchi project and on how to take part, visit www.edsaweb.org/amchi-programme.