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VOSH IN LATIN AMERICA Nelson Rivera, OD Vice President, VOSH International ALDOO/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
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VOSH IN LATIN AMERICA Nelson Rivera, OD Vice President, VOSH International
ALDOO/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
ALDOO/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 1960’s-70’s
ALDOO/CLOO Currently, working to create awareness with the population in general Ophthalmologists’ Resistance to advances in Optometry But that is changing….
ALDOO/CLOO Countries with Optometry laws/acts in the books. Panama Guatemala Colombia Ecuador Costa Rica Mexico
ALDOO/CLOO Countries actively lobbying for creation of Optometry laws Argentina Peru
Helping Latin America Some issues: 1. The NEED for help 2. The available resources -Number of Optometrists locally -General Infrastructure -Cooperation of local authorities
MEXICO • Capital City: Mexico CityArea:1,958,200 sq km/756,061 sq miles Population: 101,000,000 • Per Capita Income: US$7,310.00 • Number of Optometrists: 500 • Number of technically trained: 12,000
MEXICO • 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)
MEXICO • Schools of Optometry (4) • UNAM- Mexico City • IPC CICS-Mexico City • IPN- Milpa Alta • Aguascalientes
COSTA 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
COSTA RICA • Optometry School • Universidad Latina • 4 year Optometry Program • 2 yrs Optician/4 yrs Optometry
NICARAGUA • Capital City ManaguaArea: 129,494 sq km/49,998 sq miles • Population: 5,200,000 • Per Capita Income: US$910.00 • Number of Optometrists/Opticians: 115 • Only 15 with University training • 35 Empirically Trained • 65 technical school trained • No Optometry schools.
NICARAGUA • 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
NICARAGUA • Missions 2006 • San Juan del Sur (VOSH CT) • Corn Islands (VOSH NECO) • Nandasmo (VOSH NE) • Granada/VERAS (VOSH Int’l) • Matagalpa/Esteli (VOSH FL) • Cardenas (VOSH NEWENCO) • Rivas (VOSH KY) • Chinandega (VOSH FL)
HONDURAS • Capital City: TegucigalpaArea:112,090 sq km/43,278 sq miles Population: 6,700,000 • Per Capita Income: US$1190.00 • Number of Optometrists/Opticians: 100 • Only 30 with University Training • 70 Empirically trained
HONDURAS • Missions 2006 • San Pedro Sula (VOSH IN) • Tela (VOSH IN) • Tocoa (VOSH KY) • Roatan (SVOSH UAB)
GUATEMALA • Capital City: Guatemala CityArea: 108,890 sq km/42,042 sq miles Population: 13,900,000 • Per Capita Income: US$2,450.00 • Number of Optometrists/Opticians: 330 • Only 70 with University Training • 135 with Technical training • 125 Empirically trained
GUATEMALA Missions 2006 Guatemala (VOSH PA) Guatemala (VOSH OR) Jalpatagua (VOSH ON) Camanchaj (VOSH MI) Sayache (VOSH PA)
EL SALVADOR • Capital City: San SalvadorArea: 21,040 sq km/8,124 sq miles Population: 6,500,000 • Per Capita Income: US$2,450.00 • Number of Optometrists/Opticians: 165 • Only 15 with University Training • 150 with Technical Training • “some” empirically trained
EL SALVADOR Missions 2006 Sta Ana/San Miguel(VOSHNECO) Apopa/Suchitoto (VOSH NECO) San Salvador (SVOSHNSUCO) San Salvador (VOSH CA) FUDEM- Permanent Clinic
ECUADOR • Capital City Quito • Area 283,520 sq km/109,467 sq miles Population 12,000,000 • Per Capita Income:US$2,630.00 • Number of Optometrists: 280 • Number with Technical Training: 320
ECUADOR • Missions 2006 El Floron (VOSH OH) Guayaquil (VOSH Sta Cruz) Nabon (VOSH OR) Porto Viejo (VOSH MN)
ECUADOR • 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 OD’s
ECUADOR • 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.
PERU • Capital City: LimaArea: 1,285,215 sq km/496,222 sq miles Population: 27,219,264 • Per Capita Income: US$2,610.00 • Number of Optometrists: 50 • Number of technically trained: 400 • Number of Opticians: 700
PERU • Missions to Peru 2006: • Abancay, Peru (VOSH NE) • Coya, Peru (VOSH MI) • Carjamarca Peru (VOSH IL) • Manchay (VOSH SOS)
PERU • VOSH SOS Eurohispano • Local VOSH Chapter • Works in conjunction with the Rimac Rotary (Lima) • Very active chapter • 7 missions 3000 pts seen in 2006
PARAGUAY • Capital City: AsunciónArea: 407,000 sq km/157,143 sq miles Population: 5,585,828 • Per Capita Income: US$1,280.00
PARAGUAY • Missions 2006 • Asuncion (VOSH KY)
Bolivia Capital City: Sucre(gov’t center) Largest City: La PazArea: 1,098,580 sq km/424,162 sq miles Population: 8,800,000 • Per Capita Income: US$1,100.
Bolivia Several technical Optician/Optometry Programs In Santa Cruz (Eastern Bolivia) In La Paz (2nd Capital) Univ. Filadelfia-ONLY Certified school at this time
ARGENTINA • Capital City: Buenos AiresArea: 2,776,890 sq km/1,072,157 sq miles Population: 37,812,817 • Per Capita Income: US$4470 • Number of Optometrists:400 • 236 practicing/164 pending certification • Number of Opticians: 5000
ARGENTINA • 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
Helping Latin America A FEW OBSERVATIONS..
Helping Latin America Countries with greatest resources: 1.Costa Rica 2.Mexico 3.Ecuador 4. Argentina 5. Peru
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.
Helping Latin America Guatemala is good. VOSH PA has a permanent clinic there. Some of the rural indigenous Populations underserved. Nicaragua has lots of need. Very little infrastructure so Not much local support.
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
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
Helping Latin America Argentina will be good. There are very large segments of people underserved in this large populous country
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.
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
Helping 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.