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PHOTO: DanCesar.com
VOSH (Volunteer Optometric
Service to Humanity) – Connecticut
If Matthew and Audrey
Blondin are the driving force behind the VOSH-Connecticut Mission to
San Juan del Sur, then the volunteer Doctors, Students and Sanjuaneños
are the motor that keeps it all running. This was the tenth year that
VOSH Connecticut has held its clinic in SJdS. A staggering figure of
2,500 patients, (aged 3 years and above) were checked in, examined and
treated over four days at the makeshift clinic. Six Eye Doctors and
thirteen Optometry Students were joined by about fifty local volunteers
to process over 600 patients per day from as far as Managua, Masaya
and Rivas. Buses were on hand to bring clients in from the surrounding
communities.
Centro Escolar Emmanuel Mongalo y Rubio in Barrio Frente Sur was the
a school turned temporary clinic for this years visit. A pre-exam room,
5 examination rooms, a dispensary and a canteen were set up over the
four days between the 14th and 17th of January.
Dr. Rosa Elena Bello from the Servicio Medico Communal in SJdS has been
the local Coordinator since the first visit by VOSH. “As soon
as we are gone, Rosa will start the process of organizing next years
clinic” said Audrey Blondin. I asked Rosa what the typical problems
were, other than the usual requirement for glasses.
She told me “With
the children it’s often a head injury that has caused a problem
with eyesight. With the adults we see a lot of problems caused by Glaucoma”
(a disease of the optic nerve).”
One of the children, a 5 year old, had been injured two months ago by
a branch from an orange tree. He required surgery and was referred to
a clinic in Ciudad Sandino near Managua to be taken care of through
a network of volunteer Eye Doctors.
This year, Matthew and Audrey Blond were joined by son Nick, a fourth
year Med School student. I asked Nick what measures could be taken by
Nicaraguans to prevent some of the problems he saw. ”Helmets,
Hats and Sun Glasses”, he replied. “The part of the brain
that controls sight is at the back of the head. Preventing head injuries
is a huge factor. Shading the eyes with a ball cap or wide brimmed hat
and sunglasses to keep out harmful UV rays are also a must.” (The
group brought down 3,000 pairs of sunglasses to be given to each patient).
Audrey Blondin, Lawyer turned Clinic Administrator (or “La Jefa”
as she is affectionately known here) told me “We could not do
this without the support of the local community, especially Mayor Eduardo
Holmann and Chris Berry from Pelican Eyes for helping ensure we had
the supplies when we got her.” She went on to say “It has
becoming increasingly more difficult to carry out these clinics around
the world and you need a solid support system helping you. The fact
that we have been doing this for 10 years helps”
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