Tijuana Mexico - Thanksgiving week 2008
SCCO Students

Statistics::
Dispensed readers: 184
Rx being made: 207
Examined / no prescriptions needed: 128
Total 516

Referred 18

Christian Alvarez wrote...
The VOSH mission trip to Tijuana B.C. was a very memorable experience, as I had the opportunity to volunteer with a group that served hundreds of under served and impoverished individuals. Since I have visited Tijuana on dozens of occasions, and was very aware of the situations many of its inhabitants contend with on a daily basis, I felt great gratification having been a part of an effort to improve these people's daily lives. I personally had the opportunity to meet young boys and girls with visibly impoverished appearances, whom despite their living conditions had very lively and positive attitudes. It was a tremendous satisfaction knowing that VOSH's efforts will prevent these children from struggling in school due to vision problems, and have a greater opportunity to succeed. Many people both young and old received or will soon receive eyeglasses, will have improved vision, and have one less fundamental issue to overcome. It was an honor to partake in the VOSH humanitarian efforts, and I hope to become a member so I may continue to dedicate time to the priceless service its members provide.

Aaron Smith wrote:

On November 23rd through the 25th, my wife Shonee and I had a real opportunity to travel with Dr. Barry Leonard O.D. and some fellow classmates of mine to Tijuana, Mexico for a VOSH eye care trip. The first day we set up clinic and organized ourselves for the next two days of seeing people with eye problems. We used a few rooms in a Catholic Church yard as places to conduct visual acuity testing, refraction and ophthalmoscope, and dispensing. Some individuals only needed a good pair of readers to get them by, and others needed a fresh pair of glasses that they would wear all day long to see much better than before. Glasses are being made up right now to be delivered in January to those seen by our team in Tijuana.

As a first year optometry student I found it eye opening. During the effort, I recognized a true need that many people there have for vision correction and eye care treatment. Second, I recognized that a handful of people dedicated to treating eye conditions, can help out many people in ways that have huge impacts on quality of life of others. I see myself participating in many more VOSH trips in the future and I look forward to impacting others for the good through this program.

 

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