Members of the APHA Vision Care Section are already aware of many other vision-related organizations.  One that may not be on the tips of so many members tongues is Enfoque Ixcán.  Dr. Scott Pike, Enfoque Ixcán’s president, wrote to members “ a summary of our progress for 2007, and of my last trip to the Ixcán in February of this year.  I hope you'll pay particular attention to the article about one of our cataract patients, Maria Ambrosio.  How the surgery has extended the usefulness of her life most impressed me.  We also have an article on education in the Ixcan.  This is a continuation on a series of articles we've been doing.  This one is authored by a young man who is the director of a middle school in the Ixcan.  Unlike most of his contemporaries in the Ixcan, Hugo has had the benefit of a complete education.  Young people like him are helping improve life in the Ixcan through better educational opportunities and excellent role models for the younger generation.  With this newsletter we also welcome a new board member, Debbie Billings. Debbie has experience in the Ixcan, she's very enthusiastic about our program and she's a good friend.  I hope you'll take the time to read about her.  We now have a logo, which doesn't show up in the attachment.  It's a cute little bird, the Quetzal (national bird of Guatemala), and he/she has a pair of glasses on.  Our Web site is under construction.  I'll let you know when you'll be able to see him/her there.  As always, if anything you read here provokes thoughts, ideas, comments, criticisms or the urge to donate, please let me know.” 

For more information, including the newsletter to which this letter from Dr. Pike makes reference, you can contact Enfoque Ixcán at Enfoqueixcán@aol.com.