Our work began in 1992 when a group of volunteers, led by Dr. Rainald Duerksen, began offering eye care at the Mennonite Hospital at kilometer 81, transmitting God’s love through an accessible and high-quality service for all.

Periodic visits began to the indigenous village of Yalve Sanga, in the Central Chaco, and there, in March 1993, the first surgical campaign was carried out, with 27 surgeries.

The growth of this noble endeavor was not long in coming. Soon, the first dedicated operating room was opened: a wooden structure built in the backyard of the Baptist Medical Center, which was used for 10 years and where approximately 10,000 surgeries were performed. And as part of this expansion, the Vision Foundation was established in 1999.

The work continued to progress, support from allies soon arrived, and over the following years several clinics were opened to meet the growing demand for services.

Thousands of kilometers traveled and patients treated

Each year the institution travels thousands of kilometers across the country, seeking to help vulnerable people who have difficulty accessing any kind of care.

Through its ophthalmological surgical campaigns, more than 100,000 people have been treated and more than 5,000 patients have been operated on in priority areas, thanks to the contribution of allies and generous donors.

But the impact of our work is not only local, but also transcending borders. In 2018, we began providing services in Bolivia, and in 2022 we started our work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, where there is a huge lack of ophthalmological services and a high impact of blindness on the community.

These 30 years are just the beginning of everything that lies ahead. We know this is just the start, and we are prepared to continue offering the community our excellent ophthalmological services, accessible to everyone.