Optometry brigade in Pearl Lagoon

Report of an optometry brigade in
the municipality of Laguna de Perlas
between 5 and 8 December 2020

General

A brigade of optometrists delivered care to four communities of the municipality of Laguna de Perlas in coordination with the Municipal Mayor's Office of Laguna de Perlas, the Municipal Mayor's Office of Estelí, the Superemos Foundation of Estelí and with the support of the VISTA Foundation of Sweden and the Mariana Maradiaga Association of León. The members of the brigade were:

  • Vilma Vilchez, Secretary of Community Organization of the Estelí City Hall

  • Maria Luisa Reyes Matamoros, collaborator of the VISTA Foundation of Sweden

  • Gladys Ruiz Gonzalez, president of Fundación Superemos

  • Hilda Duarte Solorzano, Vice President of Fundación Superemos

  • José Abelino Martínez, optometrist of the Asociación Mariana Maradiaga

  • Bertha Sibaja Sevilla, fifth year optometry student and volunteer of the Asociación Mariana Maradiaga

We took advantage of the trip to take 10 piñatas contributed by the Mayor's Office of Estelí (which were made by students at the Estelí Vocational Training School) to the Mayor's Office of Laguna de Perlas to help activities for local children.

Program

Altogether the brigade saw 273 patients (96 male and 177 female) in the four communities of Orinoco, Tasbapauni, Pueblo Nuevo and Laguna de Perlas itself.

Needs identified.

Among the 273 patients with different visual problems who were attended, the most serious problems were young people with photophobia problems and adults aged 35 or over with cataract problems. It is worth mentioning that due to accidents by serious blows 5% have lost their eye, 25% of those under 35 had some degree of photophobia by much sun exposure and 70% of patients over 35 showed varying degrees of cataract problems.

A total of 177 women between aged 8 to 80 years old were treated, 96 men between aged 18 to 80 years old. The optometrists gave patients with problems an note indicating the problem and referring them to an ophthalmologist and suggested surgery as soon as possible. A great need for progressive lenses and sunglasses was also observed.

The activity would not have been possible without the donation of glasses from the VISTA Foundation of Sweden. It should also be noted that the communities received indispensable cooperation and support of local MINSA staff and community organizations.

Observations

  • This activity demonstrates in a concrete and positive way that the ideal role of community NGOs is fulfilled in most effectively when they act in coordination with municipal and national authorities in order to optimize the use of available resources in the restitution of rights to the most needy population.

  • With better preparation, more components could have been integrated into the brigade either in terms of health (e.g., a dental or other specialized component) or in terms of education (e.g., a literacy component).

  • There was also a need to ensure better follow-up to cases requiring eye care (e.g., ensuring adequate coordination with the Misión Milagro program).

Click on this link for the complete report including statistics of care delivered

fundación superemos