History Has Been MadeSince 2008 the collective efforts of the San Diego Executive Lions Club, San Diego Vietnamese American Lions Club, Poway Lions Club and the Poway Lions Medical/Educational Foundation have been supporting Dr. Nguyen Cuong Nam, Ophthalmologist and Director of MedicOptic Refract, and the Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients (SAPP) of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Support included providing medical supplies for the conduct of Catarac Surgeries and Corneas for Transplantations, including coordinated Eye Care training by several Ophthalmologists from the Shiley Eye Care Center in La Jolla, CA . The annual trip to Ho Chi Minh City (Formerly Saigon) by several members of those Lions organizations were able to assist in conducting numerous Cataract Surgeries, Cornea Transplants and laying the groundwork for the possibility of opening an Eye Bank in Vietnam and the startup of a new Lions Club in Ho Chi Minh City.

On March 15, 2011 the dedication of the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Eye Bank at 1147 Tran Hung Dao Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam was completed and witnessed by Representatives of the Vietnamese Government, SAPP, Lion Rose Tran, Lions Joe San Nguyen, and Lion Tim Mendez, and a number of Ophthalmologists and other dignitaries. Lion President, Sid Scruggs, was scheduled to be in attendance but at the last moment cancelled due to an illness. Lion President, Sid Scruggs authorized Lion Tim Mendez to sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the Eye Bank in his absence and then he would authenticate that signing at a later date. The Vietnamese Government has also given the “go ahead authorization” to start a new Lions Club in Ho Chi Minh City. Incidentally, 286 Cataract Surgeries and 6 Corneal Transplants was completed in four provinces prior to the March 15 signing on this Medical Mission.

District 4L6 and Lions International can be proud of these historical events as the ability to Serve now includes Vietnam.

Lion George Folwarski

Team members: SDVA Lions Club

We cross the Mekong river by ferryto Can Tho city

Preparation before surgeries

Patient ID. Are you Mr. X?

Drs at work

Tim Mendez and Boby Korn

Donor record checking

Will my eye be BLUE?

Notthing is done until the paper work is done

Appreciation plaque

to Jeff Penta and San Diego Eye

Bank

Support Agreement to establish an eye bank in Vietnam

Lions International and our teamin front of The Facility: a five story building