August 2007
Hola VOSHers,
Finally back in the good old USA, and of course non stop work at the office.....I am now paying my dues for being away so long. And do I have stories to tell......
First of all, GRACIAS, GRACIAS , GRACIAS to all you that made it possible for another successful eye & dental care mission to Moquegua, Peru. You guys are the best. We were able to examine over 1500 patients, and 33 cataract surgeries and over 100 dental procedures were done in the short time we were there.
I am glad we really had a cohesive group that worked very well together, under very difficult circumstances. Thanks for the patience in those long bus rides, and for accepting stoically the somewhat spartan conditions at some of the hotels along the way...... but like they said…..”we have never promised you a rose garden”. Oh well, some of you are too young and perhaps never heard that song before, but I guess you can surmise what I meant.
This was a special VOSH-New York mission, in the planning for over a year but had to change clinic location abruptly. Particular thanks for Dr. Hector Salas, the Medical Director of the Hospital de Apoyo in Moquegua, who with a very short notice (about only one month time) was able rally enough local support to make this humanitarian effort possible. Gracias to all at the Hospital de Apoyo, and to all the Lions of Moquegua also. No wonder we have been going there three times already.
Most of the volunteers had a nice side trip to the Colca Canyon at the conclusion of the mission.
We took a 6-hour bus ride over the Andes from Arequipa, crossing it at a height of almost 15,000 feet above sea level…that is high, just ask the few that were affected with altitude sickness, not fun. But we were all rewarded with some beautiful scenery, the sight of those magestic condors at sunrise and the noble people from the almost lost town of Cabanaconde.
Thanks to our complete 2007 VOSH-NY Volunteer Team:
Dr. Jorge WonDr. Viola Kanevsky
Dr. William VaughanDr. Laurie Arcolano
Mr. Marcos Ruiz, optometristMr. Adan Ruiz, optometrist
Mr. Jose Luis Obando, optometristMs. Esmerita Santiago, optometrist Ms. Thalia Ganoza, optometrist Mr. Crishstian Gomez, optometrist
Mr. Hanishkumar PatelMs. Reena Agarwal
Ms. Claire AzzamMs. Kristine Zabala
Ms. Amanda Fronhofer Ms. Attefa Sultani
Dr. Daniel ReshefDr. Julius Shulman
Dr. Barbara Phillips
Dr. Daniel ChangAndrea Chang
Ms. Elizabeth WonMs. Charlene Chiang
Mr. Doug DingerMr. Marco Navarro
Mr. Anthony ChauMr. Andrew Won
Mr. Jonathan WonMs. Lauren Ross
Ms. Shoshana ReshefMs. Elizabeth Jones
Mr. David VaughanMs. Olivia DeLacey
Ms. Ginny ChangMr. Mathew Chang
Gracias to all these key organizers and leaders:
Mr. Donato Lavado, Lima
Coronel EP Rodrigo Lavado, Lima
Dr. Hector Salas, Medical Director, Hospital de Apoyo, Moquegua
Dr. Luis Arevalo, Oftalmic Service, Lima
Dr. Daniel Reshef, SEE (Surgical Eye Expeditions) affiliate surgeon, New Jersey
Dr. Julius Shulman, SEE (Surgical Eye Expeditions) affiliate surgeon, New York
Dr. Gloria Zavala, Chief of Customs, Lima
Dr. Heli Pelaez, Ambassador, Consul General of Peru, New York
Mr. Abel Cardenas, Consul Adscrito, Consulado General del Peru, Nueva York
Mr. Rafael Alcantara, Peruvian Customs, Lima
Dr. Mariela Pineda, APCI (Agencia Peruana Cooperacion Internacional), Lima
S-VOSH at SUNY-College of Optometry, New York
Lodging and meals:
Sr. Jorge Salas, Hotel El Doral, Lima
Sr. Martin Andrade, Hotel El Doral, Lima
Sra. Amalia Vizcarra, New York
Ministerio de Salud, Moquegua
Club de Leones, Moquegua
Transportation and Tourism:
Ms. Filomena Gonzalez, Cuzco Travel, New York
Ms. Betty Babilonia, LAN, New York
Sr. Donato Lavado, Lima
Ms. Maria Rosario (Charo) del Pozo, Solmartour, Lima
Supplies and donations:
Mr. Miguel Checa, and all at SEE (Surgical Eye Expeditions), California
Mr. George Johnson, Operations Manager, New Jersey Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center, New Jersey
Mr. Mark Sachs, Director, PRVAIL (Partners in Restoring Vision and Improving Lives), California
Mr. Chan, C & B Trading Co., New York
Ms. Altagracia Quiterio, Duane Reade, New York
AMO (Advanced Medical Optics), California
Alcon, Texas
Allergan, California
Bausch & Lomb, New York
Thanks again to each and all of you. Until next mission……….
Salud y amor,
Dr. Jorge Won
President, VOSH-New York
August 2007