Dear Friends!
July 12th 2 VFA members (1 optometrist and 1 assistant) arrived in
Bolivia to provide eye exams to the Tsimané indians and Bolivian farmers. We
had promised to attend 100 patients each day, people who had no economic
resources to pay a full price for an eye exam and a pair of eyeglasses.
Those who could, paid a symbolic sum of $1.00USD for the eye exam and
eyeglasses. After deliberating with The Great Tsimané Council it was decided
that the Tsimané indians would not have to pay anything. We worked in the
rainforest of the Beni Region, ”San Borja” and in ”El Torno” near Santa
Cruz. During 7 workdays we succeeded in doing the following:
* We examined 874 patients, of which 464 (53,1%) were women, 410 (46,9%)
men.
* The majority, 836 (95,7%) were presbyopic, that is over 35 years of age.
(This relatively low age boundary was chosen because the peoples of
developing countries age quicker
and do not live as long in average as in the developed countries.)
* Statistically 13,3% of Bolivias inhabitants of over 6 million are
illiterate. In the area
where we worked the numbers were much higher especially among women.
According to Antonio Ballón, regional coordinator of the Literacy Campaign:
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”In Bolivia, illiteracy has a woman´s face.
(In certain areas) seven of ten women are illiterate.
We have to change this tragic statistic for the better.” |
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Of the
total amount of women and men from San Borja and El Torno, only 178 (38,4%)
women
and 238 (58,0%) men could read and write. However if one looks just at the
Tsimané women,
only 6 of 115 could read and write, that is 94,8% were illiterate !!! Of the
Tsimané men, only
93 (75,6%) could neither read nor write.
With the statistics quite evident, it was wonderful to know that many, after
receiving their eyeglasses from VFA, could sign up to participate in the
literacy campaign “Yo, Sí Puedo”
(“Yes, I Can”). 120 000 Bolivians are already participating in the first
phase of the campaign.
* A frightening high amount of women 446 (96,1%) did not have any income.
For the men the number was 390 (92,7%). Most had a small plot of land to
cultivate for their own consumption.
* Of the 946 pair of eyeglasses donated, 940 pair (99,4%) had positive
lenses to correct
hyperopia or presbyopia. Only 6 pair (0,6%) were given out to correct
myopia.
* For both sexes was 75% of the eyeglasses for near work such as to read
and write, clean
rice, sew and weave.
* 123 people received no eyeglasses. Some had no eye problems. Others had
some eye pathology (Cataract, Glaucoma, Pterygium, Nystagmus etc.) and
eyeglasses did not help them. They were remitted to Cuban ophthalmologists
who offered their services at clinics in San Borja and Santa Cruz.
* 184 people received two pair of eyeglasses or bifocals to correct both
distance and near sight.
874 people were examined, 174 more than promised. To put a monetary value on
the work
done by VFA, we can estimate that an eye exam plus a pair of eyeglasses can
cost around
$100.00 USD. The value of VFA´s work can then be calculated at:
$100.00 USD x 874
patients = $87 400.00 USD !!!
We hope that we can continue in a future project perhaps improving the
work by:
1. next time working in “La Guardia” and “Porongo” and in the
4 “sub-centrales” in “El Torno”.
2. in San Borja travelling further up river to reach more distant
villages.
3. translating and implementing VFA´s “Screening Manual” to be able to
do a massive screening program in the countryside.
4. supporting even more women so that they may advance more in society.
För all the eyeglasses we wish to thank Lions in Sweden, optometrists,
optical companies, the Swedish people and in particular, the VFA members. We
wish to also thank SOLF
and Synoptik for their financial support. For logistical and financial help
in San Borja, Bolivia, we thank The Great Tsimané Council, Dr. R. Godoy, Dr.
T. Huanca, Dr. W.R. Leonard, and the
Clinic ”Horeb”. In “El Torno” we would like to thank, M. Ramírez, E.
Serrano, Farmer Union in ”El Torno”, the Clinic ”Anahi”, Dr. E. Peredo, E.
Arandia.
L.
Quintanilla, and A. Zambrana.
Sincerely,
John J. Godoy
Optometrist
President Vision For All |