The Volunteers In Prison Service of the archdiocese of Palo invited the EVSO to conduct an eye clinic during the celebration of prison awareness week. We conducted the mission in Abuyog Regional Prison, Abuyog Leyte on oct 23, 2009.This is the first time EVSO did a prison mission. We did not know the needs of the inmates. We had a limited number of eye meds so one inmate was assigned to be the one to apply the eye drops to the patients. They will have to share medications.
Volunteers in prison service due to limited budget also brought a few reading glasses.
Inmates needing surgery will be referred to EVRMC.
We offered our services to the VIPS if they would want to conduct a mission in the future. Next time we could prepare better, maybe do the surgeries in the prison infirmary. ( Cataracts, pterygium ).
Most patients seen came from the maximum security so we saw "maximun errors of refraction, "reclusion perpetua catarata".
( few days prior to the mission I asked Mrs Tita Sierras of VIPS about our safety, she assured me that we will be safe, safer than walking in downtown . This was proven during the mission. security was more than adequate and we work as if we were not in a maximum security prison )
Dr Amy suggested we go back before christmas not to do an eye clinic but share the christmas spirit. We could cook/give them aroz caldo ? ( we saw the inmates being served soup but even at a far vantage point you could tell na "malapsao" Tulo ka takus na tasa na guti. Their meal allowance is 50 pesos per day ) We also learned that soap and laundry soap is considered GOLD inside.
We wish to thank the staff of Abuyog regional prison for welcoming us and to the Volunteers in Prison service for the fellowship.
EVSO members present were Dr Amy, Dr Aries and Dr Alfred. We were assisted by Dr Larry Vera Cruz and Nurse Ruby.
Matthew 25:40
| "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' |
