The VOSH Eye Care Clinic in Bolivia

The VOSH Illinois team flew overnight from Miami and  arrived in the big Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Then it was off by bus in  what became a 9 hour trip to Concepcion, in the heart of the lowlands of Bolivia. Concepcion has a population of around 8,000.   Our clinic was set up there.  In the better part of a week we saw 1,708 patients, many bussed in from other villages,  and our surgeons (one U.S., one Bolivian) performed 46 operations.These are photos of the clinic we set up. The surgeries were performed in a small nearby hospital.  Hundreds were awaiting us each day. You see in the photo many patients waiting for one of the 6 stations of the clinic and some idea of the layout of the clinic itself. After entering the building patients came to Mel to register, then to Janet for eye charts (and we had help from different members of the team when necessary). Then after measuring the lens of their eyes (not shown) , it's off to the doctor. Dr. Sandra Bury of Oak Lawn, Illinois  examines mother and  child before prescribing glasses or medication.

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