Sir, I write in response to the letter Volunteer programme (BDJ 2006; 201: 617) to offer suggestions for volunteer programmes such as Bridge2Aid. These programmes require resources in the form of work force which can only be provided by professionals, in this case, by dentists and auxiliaries. While Bridge2Aid, for example, has a basic requirement for dentists with two years' postgraduate experience, a practitioner with this requirement will quite likely have to take leave from practice or his/her job and may suffer financial loss. Slight modifications of such rules may not only bring in a larger number of dentists, but also be of use to them in refining their skills.

In India, postgraduate students in the specialty of Community Dentistry are trained in organising and conducting screening programmes for oral cancer and pre-malignant lesions and also in working in treatment camps in rural areas in association with various government and non-government organisations. These programmes follow all universal precautions of infection control and provide quality treatment within the available resources. 'Standing dentistry' is practised at these programmes. If required, referrals are made to teaching hospitals where these patients are treated for free.

Dental treatment programmes in remote rural areas constitute a method in which social welfare organisations and dental schools cater to the needs of poor rural people.1 These students can exercise and enhance their skills in providing dental treatment in other countries like Tanzania. Such schemes can be made into twinning programmes incorporated in the postgraduate curriculum and not only increase oral health care delivery in the respective countries but also increase a feeling of universal brotherhood among the dental professionals of different countries.