ADA Feria de Salud - National City

THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY OPTOMETRIC SOCIETY
SCREENS 100 AT ADA FERIA
By: Byron Y. Newman, OD - Public Awareness Co-Chair

    Kimball Park, National City, CA was the site of ADA Feria held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 with over 90 booths, thousands of people, and an optometric team with an eye chart and overheated ophthalmoscopes as about 100 were screened for acuity, eye pressure and retinal changes in 3 very busy hours. Although scheduled from 9 to 2, the people began rolling in at 10am with a steady stream to 1pm, trickling down to a precious few to 1:30. No one, no matter what age was turned away, and some as young as 5 and 6 came through, with the majority Spanish Speaking elders.

    At times the small staff consisting of Adriana Sanchez, OD, Sukumar Pandit, OD, Alfonso Molina, OD, Public Awareness Chairman, Byron Y. Newman, OD along with optometric assistant Andrea Luera were hard pressed to keep the long lines moving. COA staff member Sean South, flew South from Sacramento to join the team and to counsel the attendees at the conclusion of their screening and to keep the team rallied and supplied with food and drink. Two donated NCT tonometers were kept functioning, and two ophthalmoscopes ran out of battery power during the fair, sponsored by the American Diabetes Assn. Radio stations were present, along with health groups, hospitals, HMO plans, and those who provide for diabetic diets. A team of fair volunteers assisted at two tables in the front of the rec room where the screening was held, passing out brochures in Spanish and English, and signing people up for the screenings, and sending them upstairs to the Park Rec Room. Everyone came through with their examination forms filleed out, thanks to the many volunteers, including their leader, Liz, who helped us set up, pack up at the conclusion, and kept things flowing.