Location:
Nebaj, in a beautiful area situated in the highlands north east of Guatemala City, is a town that was in the centre of the conflict in the 1980s. The people speak mainly Ixil, so a triple translation was used from English to Spanish to Ixil. We worked out of a clinic called 'Clinic Vida and Esperanza', run by Missionary Ventures. The area is one of the poorest in Guatemala but not as poor as those in some of the African countries we have visited.

There were no optical facilities for several miles and the need was great. Many had corneal diseases and the majority needed glasses. On the last day we went to a village high in the mountains called Sequille Grande, where we ran a clinic before joining in a church service in the afternoon.

On the way back to Guatemala City we rested for a while in Antigua, which is a pleasant Spanish colonial town an hour from the city and a great place to buy souvenirs.

What was achieved:

• We saw 920 in six days
• We dispensed 780 pairs of glasses
• Many received eye drops and medication
• Those who had cataracts were referred to a local hospital for surgery
• There were many cases of high horizontal astigmatism and pterygiums

Many thanks to Missionary Ventures for the excellent organisation and hospitality and we hope to return one day.
 

Team members:

Selina Cho: Optometrist
Mary Holmes: Optometrist
Clare Holland: Optometrist
Ian Squire: Dispenser
Brigitta Squire: Dispensing
Graeme Tucker: Screening
David Trelease: Screening
Nels Trelease: Ministry

missionforvision.org.uk Tel. 01932 226789
11 Station Approach, Shepperton, Middlesex TW17 8AR
UK registered charity: 1103510