Wolfe Clinic Doctor Founds Clinic in the Philippines
March 8, 2006
Dr. Eric Bligard, an ophthalmologist at Wolfe Eye Clinic in Fort Dodge went on a gift giving mission of his own this Christmas. While Santa was busy flying around the world on Christmas Eve, so too was Dr. Bligard as he made his way to the Albay Province in the Philippines. His goal: restore sight to Filipinos blinded by advance cataracts who could not afford the necessary medical care. Poverty and the lack of either governmental health care programs or health insurance has led to a large population of patients with untreated cataracts. “There are a huge number of individuals who are unable to obtain surgery because they don’t have the money for it,” Bligard said. The results, people are going blind. Bligard explained that in the United States, it is rare for people to become blind as a result of cataracts because they get treatment once vision becomes blurry. In areas where poverty is widespread, and low-cost care is unavailable, many cataract sufferers are not so lucky. “These were people led in by the hand,” Bligard said, “I mean, these were not people walking in with blurred vision.” Dr. Bligards clinic provided the needed surgery at no cost. “This is 100 percent free for the patients receiving service, “ Bligard stressed. As a result of the mission, 34 Filipinos who were blind can now see. Dr. Bligard has been part of medical missions for two decades, but the project in the Philippines was a special undertaking. The Mata Project came about because of Bligard’s friendship with Manny Flores, a Fort Dodge physical therapist. With the help of his good friend, Bligard established a permanent clinic to which he plans to return each year. Flores, a native Filipino, arrived in Fort Dodge from his homeland almost nine years ago. With the assistance of his father and mother- a retired judge and an attorney, now both in private practice in the Albay Province region, Flores and his family opened many doors for Bligard and were critical to the success of the project. Together, the Flores family arranged for sponsors, handled all the approvals from the Philippine Regulatory Commission and the Philippine Medical Association and took charge of the materials shipped in advance of the mission. “This would have been impossible without Manny. It would have been absolutely impossible without him and by extension his entire family doing the work on the Philippines side.” Additionally, the family located a local ophthalmologist and other staff members to work with Bligard while he was in the Philippines and provide aftercare for the patients once he returned to the United States. While Dr. Bligard praised all the local health care professionals he worked with, he did point out that the country is experiencing a worsening shortage of trained physicians because low incomes have led many of its doctors to seek work overseas. Manny Flores echoed the concerns and stated that the health care system in his home country is on the verge of collapse because so many of its doctors and nurses have sought better-paying jobs abroad. Bligard plans to visit the newly established clinic in the Albay Province region every year. Flores, who accompanied Bligard on this first mission to the Philippines said he expects to be a part of the entourage in future years as well. In practice since 1919, Wolfe Clinic is a recognized regional diagnostic and surgical center offering a broad range of professional specialties of ophthalmology and otolaryngology. Dr. Bligard is available for consultations in Fort Dodge, Emmetsburg, Estherville and Lake City.