NZ Army Dental Hygienist Provides Free Care in Tonga During Exercise Tropic Twilight

Lance Corporal Victoria Nawalaniec, a dental hygienist with the New Zealand Army, recently participated in Exercise Tropic Twilight on the Tongan island of Lifuka. Alongside a team of dental personnel and a wider NZ Army contingent, she provided free dental care to nearly 200 patients.

Exercise Tropic Twilight's provision of free dental care to nearly 200 patients in Tonga highlights the importance of international cooperation in supporting disaster recovery efforts. This initiative's success has the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of communities in need, while also cultivating stronger relationships between participating nations.

Nawalaniec was part of a team of five dental professionals who performed a range of services, including oral hygiene care, fillings, root canals, and extractions. This was her first deployment, and she found it a significant change from her usual office in Burnham.

"It was my first deployment and it was definitely a change from my office in Burnham – working in the heat, with a field kit and with a new team presented some challenges," said Nawalaniec. "However, you soon find a routine and together we had great success."

Exercise Tropic Twilight is an annual event funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This year, it returned to Tonga for the second consecutive year to support recovery efforts from the 2022 Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha'apai eruption. Nearly 60 NZ Army personnel were joined by soldiers from Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Japan, spending five weeks in the Ha'apai Islands on health and construction projects.

Nawalaniec, who was born and raised in Lower Hutt, fell into dentistry by chance after getting a job as a dental assistant. She completed her training at Otago University and worked in the dental industry for 17 years before joining the NZ Army six years ago. She was motivated by a desire to focus on helping people and found that the Army allowed her to prioritize patient care over profits.

"To have the opportunity to go there was really refreshing, helping people in need, there was less pressure to be rushing all the time, and it was a good break from the normal routine," Nawalaniec reflected. "You really just need to stop sweating the small stuff."

The experience in Tonga offered Nawalaniec valuable insights and reinforced her commitment to patient care. Her transition from private practice to the Army has not only allowed her to focus on helping people but has also improved her mental health through physical training and a supportive environment.

Exercise Tropic Twilight continues to be a vital initiative, providing crucial services and support to communities in need while offering military personnel the opportunity to apply their skills in diverse environments.

Key Takeaways

• Lance Corporal Victoria Nawalaniec provided free dental care to 200 patients in Tonga.
• Exercise Tropic Twilight promotes international cooperation in disaster recovery efforts.
• The initiative offers dental services like oral hygiene care, fillings, and extractions.
• Nawalaniec's experience in Tonga reinforced her commitment to patient care and improved her mental health.
• Exercise Tropic Twilight is an annual event funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.