Conservation of the sight

Summary:
The principal objective of this project is to create a new service for Lionism in order to achieve a renovating image for Lions Clubs International by introducing the refractive eye surgery for the low-level income population in those areas where this service is not available. The new Eye Clinic of Lions Club Olmué will offer Chilean Lionism an independent space where to perform eye surgery without having to depend on the State Hospitals or Programs and permits to offer a complementary assistance to the Health Authorities in those public areas, which are not covered by specific national health programs or services and at the same time does provide an important positive image to Lions Clubs International with the impact of this innovating service for a wide range of population.

Description:
Lions Club Olmué is presently constructing a two floor Eye Clinic with a standard LCIF grant of US $ 75.000 and US $ 80.000 local funds. The inauguration is scheduled for January 2002. The clinic has been designed to provide surgery and medical attendance of patients with a low level income. The basic implementation for cataract and glaucoma surgery plus photocoagulation does exist and forms part of the District Sight Bank and Olmué Lions Club equipment, but there is need for highly specialized equipment in order to make the surgery theatre attractive for eye specialists to participate in local and continental eye surgery projects and specially in those areas where the National Health Service has no coverage. In Chile refractive surgery is not available for people with low level income and does not form part of any Governmental Health Programs.
Olmué Lions Club is looking for European Clubs or Districts who can donates this kind of equipment to start this new service in benefit of the general public and renovating Lions image with a new style and latest method for refractive correction.

The local Olmué Lions Clubs co-sponsors of the project must commit themselves to the following points:

· Inform monthly or each three months to the sponsoring Club.

· To make sure that the equipment is installed and in perfect use.

· Checking the equipment is in good conservation and proper maintenance

Olmué Lions Clubs needs the following equipment for refractive surgery:

An auto kerato-refracto meter (Manuf.: Nikon, Nidex, Topcon)

Approximate price range between US $18.000 and US $ 20.000

A slit lamp (Manuf.: Topcon, Haag Streit)

Aproxímate price range between US $6.000 and US $ 8.000

A topografo corneal (Manuf.: Tomey, Bausch&Lomb)

Aproxímate price range between US $8.000 and US $ 40.000

A pachymeter corneal (Manuf.: Tomey, VisX)

Aproxímate price range between US $3.000 and US $ 4.000

A laser excimer (Manuf.: Alcon, VisX)

Aproxímate price range between US $300.000 and US $ 500.000

Objective:
It is proposed to organize on behalf of the European Sponsors at least once a year a surgery campaign of 7 days (about 50 surgeries like cataract; glaucoma or photocoagulation) in a suitable selected place within the South American continent, using the implementation equipment of the Olmué Lions Club Eye Clinic and its medical staff. This kind of campaign should not interfere with the Sight First Programs as only those areas are selected where there is no ophthalmic service available due to lack of specialist and instruments.
Olmué Lions Club is projecting the Eye Clinic initially for District and National use with renovating services and to expand these services to other areas within South America where the need for Lions assistance is beyond the Sight First programs capacity. The Eye Clinic project covers within the District T-1 a total public of 3.000.000 inhabitants attended by 52 Lions Clubs in the North of Chile.
Every year approx 6000 persons do receive a direct benefit through a complete eye check service free of charge (an examination by specialist and a pair of glasses financed by government funds) y 500 persons are attended with surgery and 1.500 persons are attended in the policlinic. Total direct attendance 8000 persons.
The benefits of this project to the Community are on a long-term basis as the eye clinic is built of solid materials and there are no signs of the Olmué Lions Club disappearing within the foreseeable future.

How to communicate
For Clubs or Districts interested, you may contact the Olmué Lions Club secretary in the Spanish, English or Dutch language for more details or questions

To get more information, please contact Lion PDG Jan Kokelaar: kokelaar@ecoweb.cl 

Please always send a copy to PDG Luis Dominguez. lionleonluis@computronx.com

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