Title: VOSH IN LATIN AMERICA
1VOSH IN LATIN AMERICA
Nelson Rivera, OD Vice President, VOSH
International
2(No Transcript)
3ALDOO/CLOO Asociacion Latinoamericana de Opticos
y Optometristas Equivalent of AOA in Latin
America Asociacion Latinoamericana de Programas
y Facultades Optometria Equivalent of ASCO In
Latin America ALDEFO Over 20 Countries
represented
4ALDOO/CLOO Makes sense to team up with Groups
which oversee Optometry In Latin America A lot of
lobbying going on Perhaps similar to what
Optometry was in the USA in the 1960s-70s
5ALDOO/CLOO Currently, working to create
awareness with the population in
general Ophthalmologists Resistance to advances
in Optometry But that is changing.
6ALDOO/CLOO Countries with Optometry laws/acts in
the books. Panama Guatemala Colombia Ecuador Costa
Rica Mexico
7ALDOO/CLOO Countries actively lobbying for
creation of Optometry laws Argentina Peru
8 Helping Latin America Some issues 1.
The NEED for help 2. The available
resources -Number of Optometrists
locally -General Infrastructure
-Cooperation of local
authorities
9MEXICO
- Capital City Mexico CityArea1,958,200 sq
km/756,061 sq miles Population 101,000,000 - Per Capita Income US7,310.00
- Number of Optometrists 500
- Number of technically trained 12,000
10MEXICO
- Missions 2006
- San Cristobal (VOSH VA)
- Etzanlan( VOSH WI)
- San Carlos (VOSH MI)
- Sta.Maria Oro (VOSH Sta.Cruz)
- Baja (VOSH IL)
- Colima (VOSH CO)
- Sonora (VOSH AZ)
- Oaxaca (VOSH IA)
11MEXICO
- Schools of Optometry (4)
- UNAM- Mexico City
- IPC CICS-Mexico City
- IPN- Milpa Alta
- Aguascalientes
12COSTA RICA
- Capital City San JoseArea 51,100 sq
km/19,730 sq miles Population 4,100,000 - Number of Optometrists/Opticians 300
- Only 350 University Trained
- 50 Empirically trained
13COSTA RICA
- Optometry School
- Universidad Latina
- 4 year Optometry Program
- 2 yrs Optician/4 yrs Optometry
14NICARAGUA
- Capital City ManaguaArea 129,494 sq km/49,998
sq miles - Population 5,200,000
- Per Capita Income US910.00
- Number of Optometrists/Opticians 115
- Only 15 with University training
- 35 Empirically Trained
- 65 technical school trained
- No Optometry schools.
15NICARAGUA
- VERAS PROJECT
- Cooperation VOSH, UNESCO
- Also Local Health Education Depts
- Screening Children Ages 4-7
- Pilot Project in Granada Dept
- 178 schools
- Over 5000 children screened
- Eyeglasses given to about 105
- Examined about 400
16NICARAGUA
- Missions 2006
- San Juan del Sur (VOSH CT)
- Corn Islands (VOSH NECO)
- Nandasmo (VOSH NE)
- Granada/VERAS (VOSH Intl)
- Matagalpa/Esteli (VOSH FL)
- Cardenas (VOSH NEWENCO)
- Rivas (VOSH KY)
- Chinandega (VOSH FL)
17HONDURAS
- Capital City TegucigalpaArea112,090 sq
km/43,278 sq miles Population 6,700,000 - Per Capita Income US1190.00
- Number of Optometrists/Opticians 100
- Only 30 with University Training
- 70 Empirically trained
18HONDURAS
- Missions 2006
- San Pedro Sula (VOSH IN)
- Tela (VOSH IN)
- Tocoa (VOSH KY)
- Roatan (SVOSH UAB)
19GUATEMALA
- Capital City Guatemala CityArea 108,890 sq
km/42,042 sq miles Population 13,900,000 - Per Capita Income US2,450.00
- Number of Optometrists/Opticians 330
- Only 70 with University Training
- 135 with Technical training
- 125 Empirically trained
20GUATEMALA
- Missions 2006
- Guatemala (VOSH PA)
- Guatemala (VOSH OR)
- Jalpatagua (VOSH ON)
- Camanchaj (VOSH MI)
- Sayache (VOSH PA)
21EL SALVADOR
- Capital City San SalvadorArea 21,040 sq
km/8,124 sq miles Population 6,500,000 - Per Capita Income US2,450.00
- Number of Optometrists/Opticians 165
- Only 15 with University Training
- 150 with Technical Training
- some empirically trained
22EL SALVADOR
- Missions 2006
- Sta Ana/San Miguel(VOSHNECO)
- Apopa/Suchitoto (VOSH NECO)
- San Salvador (SVOSHNSUCO)
- San Salvador (VOSH CA)
- FUDEM- Permanent Clinic
23ECUADOR
- Capital City Quito
- Area 283,520 sq km/109,467 sq miles Population
12,000,000 - Per Capita IncomeUS2,630.00
- Number of Optometrists 280
- Number with Technical Training 320
24ECUADOR
- Missions 2006
- El Floron (VOSH OH)
- Guayaquil (VOSH Sta Cruz)
- Nabon (VOSH OR)
- Porto Viejo (VOSH MN)
25ECUADOR
- VOSH (University of Guayaquil) Ecuador
- New Chapter
- 7 Optometry schools in Ecuador
- Good possibility to create permanent clinic at
Univ of Guayaquil Hospital staffed by local ODs
26ECUADOR
- Ecuador July 15-21, 2006
- VOSH Santa Cruz (Quebec)
- Univ of Guayaquil University Hospital
- Guayaquil Rotary Club
- 2900 Patients seen in 6 days.
- Late September, rotary saw another 1134 patients
in 3 days.
27PERU
- Capital City LimaArea 1,285,215 sq km/496,222
sq miles Population 27,219,264 - Per Capita Income US2,610.00
- Number of Optometrists 50
- Number of technically trained 400
- Number of Opticians 700
28PERU
- Missions to Peru 2006
- Abancay, Peru (VOSH NE)
- Coya, Peru (VOSH MI)
- Carjamarca Peru (VOSH IL)
- Manchay (VOSH SOS)
29PERU
- VOSH SOS Eurohispano
- Local VOSH Chapter
- Works in conjunction with the Rimac Rotary (Lima)
- Very active chapter
- 7 missions 3000 pts seen in 2006
30PARAGUAY
- Capital City AsunciónArea 407,000 sq
km/157,143 sq miles Population 5,585,828 - Per Capita Income US1,280.00
31PARAGUAY
- Missions 2006
- Asuncion (VOSH KY)
32Bolivia
- Capital City Sucre(govt center)
- Largest City La PazArea 1,098,580 sq
km/424,162 sq miles Population 8,800,000 - Per Capita Income US1,100.
33Bolivia
- Several technical Optician/Optometry Programs
- In Santa Cruz (Eastern Bolivia)
- In La Paz (2nd Capital)
- Univ. Filadelfia-ONLY Certified school at this
time
34ARGENTINA
- Capital City Buenos AiresArea 2,776,890 sq
km/1,072,157 sq miles Population 37,812,817 - Per Capita Income US4470
- Number of Optometrists400
- 236 practicing/164 pending certification
- Number of Opticians 5000
35ARGENTINA
- A few Optometry Programs
- Universidad de Buenos Aires
- Universidad Nacional de La Plata
- Program runs 4 yrs.First 2 yrs Optician
- Last 2 yrs Optometry program
36 Helping Latin America A FEW
OBSERVATIONS..
37 Helping Latin America Countries with
greatest resources 1.Costa Rica 2.Mexico 3.Ecuado
r 4. Argentina 5. Peru
38 Helping Latin America Costa Rica currently
does not allow Many missions in their
country Mexico does. VOSH gets requests For
VOSH missions all the time.
39 Helping Latin America Guatemala is good.
VOSH PA has a permanent clinic there. Some of the
rural indigenous Populations underserved. Nicaragu
a has lots of need. Very little infrastructure
so Not much local support.
40 Helping Latin America HondurasCouple
permanent clinics there including VOSH IN in San
Pedro Sula. Country also has a lot of need Second
only to Nicaragua In Central America
41 Helping Latin America Peru is a good
country for Missions but stringent
customs Regulations are an issue. Ecuador is an
excellent place to set up missions. There is
need and also good Local support
42 Helping Latin America Argentina will be
good. There are very large segments of people
underserved in this large populous country
43 Helping Latin America Bolivia shows some
promise as good mission destination. And it is
probably the neediest country in all of South
America. Paraguay is second.
44 Helping Latin America It is a large and
populated area Spanish spoken (except
Brazil) Shorter travel time for volunteer Minimal
Jet Lag Overall decent infrastructure
45Helping Latin America Key Issues -Trying to
help the neediest -Empower/train locals
provide services to locals year round -In NO WAY
do we want to interfere with private Optical
businesses.
46 Helping Latin America FIN