One might wonder what exactly it takes to organize a VIDAS clinic. First it takes communicating with the local pueblos and establishing where the needs are. Then it requires making contacts locally that can help with the logistics of setting up the clinic. That may require finding a good location to have the clinic. The location needs to have running water, several rooms (a check in area, a surgery area and a recovery area), electricity, and be in a location that is easy for people to get to.
Prior to the clinics it is important to organize the supplies such as medical supplies, cleaning supplies, as well as local kennels, towels and blankets for the animals to recover on.
Accommodations must be set up to house the veterinarians and volunteers that come from various places to work the clinics. Also local people or local restaurants are contacted to donate food or beverages for the people working the clinic
Help with advertising in the area so people know about the clinic is imperative. Marketing and advertising is done on a local level as well as through our efforts here in the states, and through our Website. Another consideration is finding people to help with odds and ends at the actual clinic- mainly Spanish speakers to check animals in and explain what we are doing, as well as to help watch animals recover, clean instruments and run errands and do what ever is necessary as the need arises during the clinics.
Last but not least, of course, money to run the clinic is always necessary. We fundraise year round here in the states, but there’s no getting around the fact that these clinics are expensive to run! If you would like to help, please click here. All donations are tax deductible.
VIDAS has held clinics in the past in the towns of: Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos, Akumal, Chemuyil and Tulum. As you can see with several clinics being run in several locations during a short period of VIDAS is unwinding and reviewing their reports from the last clinic, plans are already being made for the next.
|
