Day 9 - Rest and relaxation

Today, team members visited the city of Olongapo in Philippines during their third rest and relaxation day, awaiting their sixth (and last) clinic day on Monday, November 19th at Smokey Mountain.

Day 8 - A very emotional day for all at Smokey Mountain

Registered patients waiting for visual acuities - section 2.

 

A few of the patients before leaving the clinic, inluding a baby.

Thank you to our great volunteers from the vice-mayor's office and Isko Moreno for a thank you dinner.

 

Day 7 - At Manila's Smokey Mountain

Within walking distance of the TWECS clinic...

Our clinic finally set up at a section of Smokey Mountain Health Center.

A senior patient describing eye conditions during the registration.

 

The waiting area for patients with priority given to seniors citizens.

 

Nearly 450 smiles seen on the first day.

 

A very tight dispensing area.

 

Dr. Michael Langenberger determining the appropriate prescription.

 Oh so many smiles...

 

The team jumps on a Jeepney at the end of the day for a conference with the vice-mayor and counsellors.

 

 

 



Day 6 - Last day at Philippine National Railways

Day 3 of clinic and we saw about 800 patients today; there were lineups of people everywhere!!! Once again, I saw many people with severe cataracts, much more advance than we would ever see in practice back at home. The most heart-wrenching reality here is that we are not able to offer treatment to every patient who needs it. Eye diseases, cataracts and possibly some infections may go untreated because we do not have enough resources to provide everyone with "first world" vision care. It is the second day where we have local final-year optometry students work with us, and it was incredibly helpful to having them translate and assist. The effects of different visual issues are much better translated and explain by optometry-educated translators. Prescriptions were written today for people who needed very high powered glasses, who hadn't had glasses for years, if ever. It is amazing how our team can care for so many people in a matter of 10 or so hours. Tomorrow is a whole different scenery as we will be moving clinic sites. The anticipation is present, but my tiredness drowns all other feelings out. Tiredness never felt so rewarding.

Fellow Doctor

TWECS Team Member

Arrival of the team at 7:30 AM for the last clinic day at PNR when nearly 800 patients had their eyes examined within 9 hours.

Team members never forget to laugh and have fun.

"Brigida Quillosa" Is an 84 year old lady that came in during the first hour of registration with the biggest smile and feistiest of energy, even though by far the most petite, frail little lady with the tiniest arms and legs weighing maybe 80 pounds. Brigida has never seen any day to day activity on the streets of her neighbourhood as she is nearsighted to the point of blindness. We were able to find a beautiful pair of -10.00 eyeglasses to match "what the TWECS Doctor ordered". "I can see all the people now" were her first words. In addition to helping her see distance Brigida also received a pair of reading glasses that she was also very grateful for. Thanks to our leader Dr. Marina Roma-March, who makes miracles like this possible.
 

Brenda Tosoff,

TWECS Team Member

Day 5 - The Word Has Spread!

A sea of patients were seated and waiting for us at 7:30 AM. We greeted them with a good morning and received a joyful and appreciative response.

The never ending lineup - No one in this culture believes in pushing and shoving to get first service. They all waited patiently to be registered with their fellow brothers and sisters of the city.

 

Amazing volunteers from the vice-mayor's office that stuck with us all day. Their presence made our jobs 1000X simpler!

A team serving with nothing but smiles on their faces.

Communication is key, and Jewel went bac to the basics with the "thumbs up", telling the patient he was doing a great job.

Dr. Roma-March and Dr. Marcantonio welcome the students from Manila Central University(MCU). Their knowledge and eagerness to learn greatly benefited the flow of our stations.

This little girl first came in very timid (like most of the children we've seen) but slowly warmed up to the volunteers, figuring out that we're only here to help her. Brenda works very well with children!

The students from MCU observed at each stations very intently and performed each action with ease, displaying their knowledge and skills.

Adjustments were made on all glasses in the dispensing station to make the patients feel like their new glasses are truly their own.

All were happy to be at PNR: TWECS members, volunteers, patients, and their family members.

 

Nothing says thank you better than a smile and a hug.

 

 

Day 4 - First Clinic Day at Philippine National Railways

First morning drive to the site, after leaving the hotel and waterfront areas, suddenly imposes a stark reality of mothers washing their little girls or boys , in a plastic basin on the street with a bucket of water and a large cup. Pouring water over their heads while they stand stark naked.

Men washing and shaving outside the same way except with underwear on.

Every Item you can think of for sale from fruit to prepaid cell phones.

The worst squalor is around the creeks and small waterways.

The first 2 hours at the site are organized chaos. Imagine 27, 50 kilo boxes scattered around the floor with 300 plastic patio chairs , 5tents, 15 tables, 15 Canadians, 15 local volunteer translators, and 3 hundred patients all in a fully functioning railway station with scheduled trains and passengers coming and going.

To add to the confusion, the General Manager of the PNR, June Gregorio is there to welcome us with his entourage, and the Deputy mayor, Isko Moreno also makes a visit.

Now he is running for mayor and also happens to be a local film star. So all the local volunteers, especially the girls are swooning and screaming when he arrives.

It's also Monday which in the Philippines means a flag ceremony takes place at 9 o'clock.

All government agencies, federal, provincial and local government, take one hour every Monday morning to sing the national anthem, have a pep talk, greet visitors and announce local news from the mayor or general manager or who ever is the senior official.

Welcome ceremony for the team.

 

Waiting area within the first 30 minutes of clinic set up.

 

 

Registration & nearsighted testing

 

 Visual Acuities

 

Autorefractor

 

A visit from the vice-mayor!

 

 

 

 

It's all about the teamwork...

 

Day 3 - Remembrance day - Villa Escudero!

The team visits the gorgeous Villa Escudero waterfall in San Pablo City the day before our first clinic day.

 

TWECS 2012 team members after a cultural show presented by the actual workers of Villa Escudero resort.