For Jill Tait, it began with a single question: “What can you do about it?” From that moment, a life-changing dental ministry was born in Papua New Guinea.
“My heart broke, and I felt God really speak to me. What can you do about it?”
In Papua New Guinea (PNG), oral health is often overlooked, yet its consequences can be devastating. With a population of around 11 million people, and less than 100 dentists, the majority of people have no access to dental care. Consumption of soft drinks and other sugar foods has increased and so has tooth decay. The children and youth are particularly facing devastating consequences. Widespread betel nut and tobacco chewing also contribute to severe oral diseases and cancer. Tooth abscesses can be deadly.
It was in this context that a SIM NZ partner Jill Tait found herself unexpectedly called into dental ministry.
Jill’s journey into healthcare ministry has spanned decades and continents. She and her husband Phil first lived in Papua New Guinea from 1992 to 1997. After further study and years of service in Nigeria where Phil served as director for SIM Nigeria and Jill coordinated healthcare for around 120 missionaries, they returned to New Zealand in 2009. Jill re-entered nursing, working as a practice nurse in Auckland.
In 2016, they returned once more to PNG. Jill admits she did so with some hesitation.
“I didn’t know what God wanted me to do. I was a bit reticent about leaving again.”
The moment that changed everything
While serving at the Christian Leaders Training College (CLTC) medical clinic Jill began working in areas familiar to her: asthma and cardio-vascular clinics and basic healthcare training. But one encounter would redirect her path.
She recalls noticing a young girl sitting outside the clinic, her face hidden beneath a tea towel.
“She had a huge swollen jaw line and couldn’t eat and couldn’t swallow.”
The staff explained the girl, only 12 or 13 years old, had a severe tooth abscess and was on her third round of antibiotics. Visiting a dentist in Mount Hagen over an hour away was impossible. She had no money.
“My heart broke, and I felt God really speak to me. What can you do about it?”
Reading Exodus 4, Jill was struck by God’s question to Moses: What have you got in your hand?
“And God challenged me with that… what have you got in your hand? And I responded, that I have a computer and I can write emails.”
Taking the first step
Jill reached out to contacts in the mission world. Her email spread quickly, drawing advice from Christian dentists and organisations.
“Just start with a tooth extraction clinic. You don’t have to do anything else. That will alleviate most of the problems for people… and they’ll live, because you can die from a tooth abscess.”
A breakthrough came when the organisation ‘mPower’ replied.
“They wrote to me and said they were coming to Papua New Guinea next week for a training session to extract teeth. I asked who their contact person was, and to my amazement, it was someone from CLTC. This was obviously God!”
With their help and ongoing support from visiting dentists, Jill began training medical staff to perform safe tooth extractions in bush clinics. Graduates returned home with basic instruments, sterilisation supplies, and practical skills, immediately impacting remote communities.
From emergency care to restoration
Over time, the dental ministry expanded, including several training programmes in tooth extractions for nurses. Jill helped train and later employed a former student who had already started his own bush clinic. Bringing him and his family to CLTC allowed the clinic to open full-time to the surrounding village.
“People would come for miles to see him.”
The clinic now sees between 5 and 10 patients a day, performs around 15 tooth extractions a week, and produces about 10 dentures weekly – another venture provided by God. Though all equipment is old, it remains functional. Space, however, is limited, and the need is growing.
Asked about the importance of denture work, Jill smiles.
“It gives a lot of joy and hope to give someone a smile with new teeth. It also helps people to get a job by having that nice smile.”
Faith, dignity and sustainability
The clinic operates as a ministry, charging only minimal fees.
“We’re there to help, but I’ve learnt not to give things away free, because then it’s not appreciated.”
Prayer is woven into daily practice.
“We pray every time we have a patient come in… and ask the Lord to give us guidance… and to bless the person and bless our hands.”
Looking ahead, Jill is focused on building local ownership. Two staff members are working to meet requirements so they can enter dental training and return as qualified therapists.
“God is using this dental clinic for His glory in ways that I had never thought or imagined. We have patients coming from all over PNG now to see us.”
Pray:
- To have both dental assistants do university training in dental therapy starting next year.
- To extend the clinic space so that we have an extra two rooms to work efficiently.
- For the finances for the above.
- For the Lord to continue to guide each step and for Him to receive all glory.
What’s in your hand? Talk to one of our mission coaches here to explore what God maybe saying to you.
