VOSH-NY Free Community Eye Clinic
Coming to Zihuatanejo, Mexico August 8-11, 2004.

Patients, Volunteers and Donations Needed!

This bulletin written and posted by Lisa B. Martin (lisa@lisabmartin.com) July 24, 2004

VOSH Clinic Time, Dates & Background

(left to right) Lisa Martin, Zihua. Dr. Alejandra Martinez, Dr. Esmir Balanzar, and Dr. and
Mrs. Won of VOSH-NY (June 2004)

The VOSH-NY free community eye clinic for Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa will take place Sunday, Monday & Tuesday - August 8, 9, & 10 from 8 am to 4 pm daily, with a half or full day planned for Wednesday August 11, depending upon patient workload and how things go days 1, 2, & 3. The location is the Hospital General in downtown Zihuatanejo (on the right, as you head out of town toward the airport).

The idea for the VOSH clinic was born over two years ago out of my desire to bring vision care to the children and families of the Netzahualcoyotl Primary School for Indigenous Children (see www.zihua-ixtapa/zihua/netza). Dr. Jorge Won of VOSH-NY came forward to help, and we have been organizing this community clinic at the official invitation of the Office of the Mayor since that time.

VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity) is an internationally recognized medical mission group with chapters and missions all over the globe, and this mission is being sponsored by the VOSH-NY chapter under the leadership of Dr. Won. Dr. Jorge Won and his wife Elizabeth and I had a recent four-day planning trip to Zihua in June, touring the hospital, and meeting with our official hosts - Mayor Amador Campos and city officials; Regidor de Salud y Assistencia Social, Francisco "Paco" Mora; and Dr. Esmir Balanzar, Director Servicios Municipales de Salud. We also talked to the media, and Dr. & Mrs. Won acquainted with the community I have come to consider my second home over the past five years. The Rotary Club of Zihuatanejo, under President Marco Bernal, is also helping us with volunteers and daily meals/refreshments coordination for the team at the clinic site.

Our Mission

The purpose of the clinic is to provide essential vision care for people - adults, children, seniors - who otherwise could not afford it. We really want to reach the folks most in need, whose lifestyles, vocations and daily functioning are inhibited by lack of eye health/care. Read more about VOSH and VOSH-NY at www.vosh.org and www.voshny.org

We expect to examine and give out sun and prescription eyeglasses to 1,500 to 2,000 persons, and complete as many as 75 cataract surgeries in 3-4 days, all at no cost to the patients. The large team of 46 that's coming in from many areas of the US includes several surgeons, nurses, optometry students, and optometrists, plus "lay" volunteers from all walks of life to help in many areas of clinic functions.

We bring with us most of the supplies, all the eyeglasses, and most of the equipment we need, sharing whatever resources are available in the hospital and local community. VOSH team members pay their own airfare and most of their travel and meal costs, and donate their expertise. Our hosts are providing some group discounted accommodations assistance (we'll all be at Hotel Irma), and local transportation two and from the airport and clinic site. It's a real international team effort with lots of advance planning involved. We will all be in town August 7-14, so will have some time after the clinic to see and enjoy more of the community and all it has to offer.

How Do We Find Our Patients?

Local patients are presently pre-registering in the city's 19 "Offices de Salud" by getting tickets that tell them what 1/2 day to show up. Encourage people you know who may qualify to register NOW by visiting a local office. Due to capacity, we cannot take walk-ins.

Surgery patients are now getting pre-examined and pre-screened in detail by local doctors on the Zihua team, under the direction of Dr. Alejandra Martinez, Eye Care specialist for the Hospital. She can be reached afternoons at the Hospital or through Dr. Esmir Balanzar.

We are confident this effort will bring great rewards to all involved, and we hope, be just the first in a series of VOSH missions for Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa.

How Can You Help?

You can volunteer for a few hours, a half-day or a full day - whatever suits your schedule. We guarantee hard work (!), many new friends, and rewarding community service. It will be easiest for us, and for clinic security, if you can pre-register your desired volunteer hours/time slots with either Dr. Balanzar or Marco Bernal (contact info below), or contact me - Lisa Martin - with questions.

Positions needed for volunteers include:

1. Registration of incoming patients, keeping lines organized, guiding people through clinic "stations", etc.

2. Translation services for all areas of the clinic (Spanish/English) - registration, eye exams, dispensing and fitting of eye glasses, pre- and post-surgery patient and family communication.

3. Vision Care: You can possibly learn and assist with basic vision acuity ("reading the chart") testing, or dispensing (fitting) eyeglasses.

4. General volunteers to help serve meals, refreshments, provide relief to other workers, etc.

5. Donations needed - ice and beverages (soda, juice, bottled water), snacks, and easy to eat lunch meals (daily, at 11 am, for as many as 75 people); tents to cover outdoor waiting areas, etc. are being coordinated with Dr. Esmir Balanzar, Marco Bernal and Paco Mora. Please contact them if you have ideas or resources in these areas.

Donations to VOSH-NY are also welcome (a USA- registered 501-3C), and will be used to help defray this and future mission costs, including student travel expenses, supplies, shipping, and medical equipment. Contact Dr. Won.

Later in the week, we plan to have a social gathering/ "Fiesta" / for all VOSH workers and volunteers...to thank everyone for their service and share results and photos. Stay tuned for details....and we welcome your ideas!

How to Register or Help:

Dr. Esmir Balanzar: Director, Servicious Municipales de Salud (Spanish/some English) - Volunteers and patient registration coordinator.
Office: 755-55-42088 / 43230
Cell: 044-755-55 70251
email: esmir@prodigy.net.mx , dresmir@hotmail.com

Marco Bernal: President, Zihatanejo Rotary Club (English and Spanish) - Volunteers, & donations for meals, beverages, Fiesta ideas.
Office: 755-55-42549
Cell: 044-755-55-61708
email: mberna01@coair.com

Paco Mora: Regidor de Salud y Asistencia Social (Spanish, some English) - general info on VOSH program, donations.
Office: 755-55-2355
Cell: 044-755-55-90097
email: asolorios@yahoo.com.mx

Lisa B. Martin: Rockport, Mass, Rotary Club and Zihua regular; Team Leader/Coordinator for incoming VOSH-Team
Home: 978-282-1305 or 207-389-2124
email: lisa@lisabmartin.com
US cell: 508-284-0078
Mexico cell (when in Zihua) - 044-755-10-01173.

Dr. Jorge Won, President, VOSH-NY
Office: 718-651-2020
US Cell: 646-734-7855
email: ojowon@aol.com

Muchas Gracias a Todos:: Thank you all for your desire to help!

+ Stay tuned for photos and results of the Clinic +