For Dr. James Weyrich, a Washington state-based optometric physician, his wife, Ellen, a native of Bago City, and their volunteers, the acquisition of a mobile clinic is a realization of a long dream to help indigents in Negros. And for their beneficiaries, it means having better vision and, literally, a better view of life.

“It’s a dream come true,” Jim and Ellen said, while conducting an unscheduled free consultation in a Bacolod street earlier this year. With the mobile clinic, the Weyrich team under the EyeCare, WeCare Foundation Inc., can now extend free services to other areas of the province and the region. “The vehicle allows us to go to other places previously unreached even by government and civic eye-care providers as we can bring our High Tech Instruments  without worrying of possible damages and the difficulties in transporting it,” said Ellen, who serves as Jim’s optometric assistant.

The blue-colored bus started their 2008 service in the first-semester mission of the foundation which was completed on Jan. 12. The couple and their volunteers conduct their free Philippine mission twice a year. That mission was held for eight days in seven barangays of Bago and Bacolod city, reaching1,559 beneficiaries with 1,538 receiving free eyeglasses and dispensing 153 bottles of expensive eye medications.

The Weyrich couple recalled the joy of a first-grade girl who was found to have a 20/800 vision. This meant she had to go 20 feet away to see what a normal person can see from a 800-foot distance, they said. Now she can see better, including reading well what her teacher writes on the board at school through her new pair of eyeglasses.

Another beneficiary, Gary Abala, a building security guard, found great relief from his nagging left eye problem when he was given eye drops and reading glasses. “Eye care, We Care came as a big help, I’m very grateful,” he told StarLife.

The team conducts eye examinations, donates eyeglasses and sun protection, refers to cataract cases to local specialists, provides eye medications and conducts an information campaign on eye diseases and prevention. It receives the support of U.S.-based civic organizations, individuals and companies who donate equipment and supplies for the Philippine mission.

The next mission will be held in June and will expand to Iloilo as the clinic is now mobile. The foundation can now go to other islands to serve more people, Jim said.

The couple met in the mission field of Jim, who previously worked with Christian vision missions, including the Mercy Ships, which served Filipinos in need of eye care services.

The couple opened their Philippine work in 2005 and has, since then, reached thousands of poor people in rural areas who do not have access to vision services due to their location or lack of financial resources.

“We’re looking to another opportunity to serve my fellow Filipinos, especially those who immensely need help,” Ellen said as she finalizes details of plans and activities for the June clinic.