ALABAMA AND FLORIDA VOSH
PISCO AND ICA MISSION , SEPTEMBER 13-16, 2004

The mission to Peru in September of 2004 was an effort by a diverse group of people to perform a multi-task function while maintaining the mission concept.

The VOSH FL/VOSH AL mission was threefold:

1. Established Optometric educators from the US instructed Optometrists and Optometry students at El Instituto Superior Euro Hispano (School of Optometry) in Lima, Peru.

2. O.D.s from the U.S. gave lectures at the First Peruvian International Congress of Optometry and Optics in Lima, Peru. Attendees included local Optometrists, Optometry students, Ophthalmologists, and Opticians. Lecture topics included diagnosis and treatment of eye disease, pediatric vision, low vision, contact lenses, and the future of optometry.

3. VOSH Florida and VOSH Alabama came together for a joint eye care mission to Pisco and Ica, two cities located on the Pacific coast, about 4 hours south of Lima by bus.

Patti Fuhr, OD, PhD, Marsha Swanson, OD, and Marcela Frazier, OD presented workshops for three days of areas of their specialties, including pediatric optometry, low vision evaluation and treatment, and optometric treatment of stroke victims. The students, local optometrists and instructors responded with great interest and pointed questions

Patti Fuhr, OD, PhD, Marsha Swanson, OD, and Marcela Frazier, OD Robin Hamm-Lavalley, OD, and Paul Anderson, OD, all presented lectures at the International educational meeting.

We held eye care clinics ½ day in Pisco, two full days in Ica proper, and ½ day in the outskirts of Ica. We saw 1409 patients, and glasses were provided by the Rimac Rotary of Lima in addition to the 300 readers provided by Lions of Indiana. Marcela returned to Alabama following the congress, but her place was taken by Nelson Rivera, OD, from Carrollton, Texas. Both Marcela and Nelson speak Spanish fluently and were most helpful with translations.

Our friend Sr. Severo Sánchez Melgarejo - Presidente of the institute El Instituto Superior Euro Hispano (School of Optometry) in Lima, Peru, brought instructors: Miguel Lujan Rojas and Julio Morales de La Cruz. Students: Karina Virrueta, Zulema Bendezu, Adan Ruiz Coba, Evelyn Espino and Luz Minga. He also brought Claudia Malaga, the daughter of a Rotarian, but she went on to become our friend and constant companion. Without Claudia, Nelson, Marcela, and Sergio we would have been hungry, thirsty and lost in Peru.

From Alabama came: Patti Fuhr, OD, PhD, Marsha Swanson, OD, and Marcela Frazier, OD. and the newlyweds: Glenn Curtis and Nancy Trowbridge Curtis, Lions and VOSHers.

Indiana: Gene Rice PID, and Harold Haman, both Lions and VOSHers

Florida: Max Bruss (Mission Leader), Paul Anderson O.D., and John Gehrig, Lions and VOSHers.

Nelson Rivera, OD (the only non Lion from the US) came from Texas, and Robin Hamm-Lavalley, OD came from Ohio. On the way to Peru, Robin visited her God Child in Esteli, Nicaragua. Sergio Romero met up with her in Esteli and came to Lima where he proved invaluable with translating and scouting abilities.

In addition we had help and support by a mixed group of Lions and Rotarians totaling 24. Gladys Gonzalez PDG and Dr. Casalino lead the Lions and Doroty Montoya and Severo Sanchez headed up the Rotary.

This mission was truly a joint effort, co-sponsored by two state VOSH chapters, combined with the efforts of at least 7 Lions Clubs and 5 Rotary Clubs in the US, Peru, and Nicaragua. We hope it is only the first of such efforts.

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