Jamila - a Story of Survival and Reconstruction
Case study from NATAN’s Mobile Dental Clinics in Israel
On Foot Alone from Eritrea - a Story of Survival and Reconstruction
“You have given me back my smile. This is the greatest Christmas gift: I am starting a new life in the new year.”
The following is one case from more than 100. NATAN’s Mobile Dental Clinics operate in various locations in Israel, serving the most vulnerable population of uninsured, at risk patients. Many of these patients are refugees and asylum seekers. This is a story of survival and reconstruction.
Jamila on her first visit to NATAN clinic, before dental reconstruction
The patient is 47 years old. She was a licensed nurse in her home country.
Jamila (alias) came to Israel 13 years ago. She traveled alone, on foot from Eritrea. She carried a Bible and a small bag. She has been living the precarious life of a refugee in Israel since her arrival.
The refugee route from Eritrea to Israel, source: PBS news
Crossing the Egyptian Sinai Desert, she was violently attacked by human traffickers and severely beaten. Human traffickers roam the Sinai desert, preying on migrants – especially those from Eritrea and Sudan who have crossed the desert on foot and are particularly weak and vulnerable. Over the past years, thousands have been abducted, tortured, held for ransom or used as forced labor. Many of those who escaped have made their way to Israel. An unknown number have died and others are permanently scarred or psychologically traumatized.
The attack on Jamila was one of thousands, but no less tragic. One of the results of that horror was the loss of teeth. Following her ordeal, Jamila’s health gradually deteriorated. This led to further dental loss. Over the years, more teeth fell out until she was left without a single tooth in her mouth. When she arrived at our mobile dental clinic, we found her toothless and suffering from chronic pain. She was unable to speak clearly or eat solid food.
Dr Efi Carmi, DDS, head of NATAN volunteer dental team, at work on Jamila’s dental reconstruction
Jamila has children who are now living in Eritrea and Europe. She has not seen any of them in years. Her husband took part in the battles In Eritrea. He left home to fight, and has not been heard from since. No one in the family knows what happened to him. Jamila sends money to her children, although she finds it very difficult to make a living. In Eritrea, she worked as a nurse. Today she sometimes works as a cleaner. She lives in Tel Aviv in a small room for which she pays high rent. There are months when she cannot make the rental payments. This is the uncertain life of a refugee, alone in a new land. When Jamila first arrived in Israel, she searched for any work available. She came to the home of a man who offered her a cleaning job. He raped her in his home. She didn’t report the rape because of shame and because of her unprotected legal status. Since then, she has been fearful and depressed. She continues to be tested for HIV, with negative results, but she feels sick constantly. She is not calm.
Jamila was afraid that because of the condition of her teeth, and the inability to eat, she would succumb to other diseases. Today she has problems of hypotension, diabetes and hypothyroidism. She sought dental treatment in Tel Aviv, but dentists there demanded a lot of money she couldn't pay. She came to the NATAN clinic in Haifa after she heard that our help was available. She told us that she has continued to come back to the NATAN clinic because she feels safe with us. She said that the NATAN team have treated her warmly and generously.
Jamila following full mouth reconstruction
The dental reconstruction work took approximately 6 months. Most of the work was carried out by NATAN volunteer dentist, Dr. Efi Carmi, who heads the dental team. Recently we completed assembling the full-mouth prosthesis after testing, measurements, and adjustments. A complete set of dentures was produced in a dental lab.
NATAN helped Jamila get her smile back.
Gil Reines heads NATAN’s Mobile Dental Clinic operations. Gil met Jamila several times throughout the process and again at the clinic this week. She was there for a final fitting of the full-mouth prosthesis. When they began speaking, Jamila burst into tears. Gil wished Jamila a Happy Christmas. Jamila said, “You have given me back my smile. This is the greatest Christmas gift: I am starting a new life in the new year.”
NATAN’s Mobile Dental Clinics are funded through the generosity of P.E.F. Israel Endowment Funds, Inc. Founded in 1922 by Justice Louis Brandeis, Rabbi Stephen Wise, Robert Szold and a group of distinguished Americans, PEF turns 90 this year and remains unique in the field of Israel philanthropy. Learn more here: https://pefisrael.org/
Jamila’s name has been changed and her face blurred in order to protect her identity. Jamila specifically asked us not to show her face so that her children will not see her, especially in light of her harrowing story.
New Smile, New Life — Jamila Today
Left: Jamila at her final fitting in the clinic of Dr. Efi Carmi, head of NATAN’s volunteer dental team.
Center: with Gil Reines, head of NATAN’s Mobile Dental Clinic Operations