Before
Only 11 ophthalmologists for the entire Hautes-Alpes department. No professionals in Barcelonnette or St-Paul-Trois-Chateaux. Up to 5 months of waiting for a consultation in rural areas… medical deserts are developing in France and causing damage.
How can we conceive that Voir La Vie can be effective in the development of its actions abroad and absent solutions on French soil?
In close collaboration with the Vue et Santé pour Tous association, created by Dr Serge SFERLAZZO and Jean GOREE, and financed by the National and International Foundations of the Lions Club, we have designed the Bus de la Vue, a real traveling consultation office, where volunteer teams travel through the villages outlying to offer free, walk-in screenings.
NOW
At a sustained pace and depending on the availability of teams of volunteer doctors and opticians, the Bus de la Vue takes place in public places to offer screenings whose aim is to guide the public and not treat them.
These screenings are carried out without any desire to compete with local professionals, but with a real intention to respond to the emergency by knowing how to welcome, observe, explain and address.
The departments of Var and Alpes-Maritimes have been added to those visited and now offer territorial coverage of the entire Southern Region, + the department of Gard
Following the death of Dr. Serge SFERLAZZO in 2022, a close-knit team took over. Drs. Georges RIOUX and Bertrand ARNOUX take turns on board the bus, supported by a dynamic administrative team led by Françoise BOURDARIE. Recently, a retired ophthalmologist, Corinne PINON, joined the medical team. Claude BARESTE organizes outings for our unit, which are driven by our driver and logistics coordinator, Jean-Luc RENAUDIN (currently being replaced).