LIHU’E — “I don’t know if I can do this,” Chad Naganuma said, fidgeting as he watched his dad, Dr. Greg Naganuma, work on a patient during the dentist’s free care for the needy program that took place on Christmas
LIHU’E — “I don’t know if I can do this,” Chad Naganuma said, fidgeting as he watched his dad, Dr. Greg Naganuma, work on a patient during the dentist’s free care for the needy program that took place on Christmas Eve.
For the fourth year, Naganuma joined forces with Dr. Larry Scherrer of Pacific Eye Care and Dr. Rand Mundo, podiatrist at Imua Foot Care, to offer free services for Kaua’i’s needy.
A year, Chad was manning a Salvation Army kettle, garbed in his Boy Scout uniform. This year, he was dressed in scrubs as he helped out in his father’s treatment room, bringing over items from the laboratory as needed and keeping the front end informed of progress of the treatment rooms.
Outside the office, a near-capacity crowd in the waiting room was grateful but silent as they patiently waited their turn for dental services.
Treatment was limited to one tooth per visit. Patients requiring more services were jockeying between the offices of Naganuma and Pacific Eye Care, getting their optometry needs taken care of before returning for more dental services.
Some of those waiting were returnees, Joanne Naganuma explained, pointing out a patient who last year got a bridge for a missing tooth.
“We got an early start,” she said. “We started at about 7 a.m., and there were already about 15 people waiting.” By 10, the dentist’s office had processed about 36 people, with more coming in. “At this rate, we should be here until about 2,” Joanne Naganuma noted. The free dental services were scheduled to end at noon, but no one requiring services would be turned away, she said.
Susan Kahawai, a dental hygienist, was kept busy with teeth-cleaning.
Patients who took advantage of the free care were presented with a free toothbrush and a sample of a new breath-freshening gum.
At Pacific Eye Care next door, receptionist Jessie Sam Fong said the doors opened about 7 a.m. By 10 a.m., about 25 patients had been received.
“We’re caught up now,” she said at about 10, noting that a single patient waited while Scherrer worked between a pair of treatment rooms.
Pacific Eye Care was offering free eye exams with free prescriptions, including a frame and lenses.
Mundo, podiatrist at Imua Foot Care, offered his services from the office on Haleko Road.
Mundo noted that a recent front-page headline noted about 4,500 Kauaians are without health insurance, and this once-a-year service allows people needing health services to have some of their needs taken care of.
Staff photographer Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253).
Staff Photo by DENNIS FUJIMOTO CHAD NAGANUMA watches nervously in the background while his dad, Dr. Greg Naganuma gets some help from Erik Jensen at this year’s Free Care for the Needy program on Christmas Eve. This is the fourth year Naganuma has teamed with Dr. Larry Sherrer of Pacific Eye Care and Dr. Rand Mundo of Imua Foot Care to provide health services for Kaua’i’s needy.
