January 18, 2023, 2:10 PM
January 18, 2023, 2:10 PM
She trained as a nurse and when the light began to escape from her little eyes, she associated with other people with the same condition. Five years ago he learned a new trade, for which he does not need to see, but to feel. He trained his hands to perform massage therapy.
Norma Lidsi Camacho Nogales de Martínez, born on January 12, 1964, received training from the Ágora Bolivia project in Pasoc. Next to her, her companions with blindness and low vision formed, in order to stop begging and have a sure way to achieve financial independence.
She is from Cochabamba, educated and trained in La Paz.is the daughter of Carlos Camacho Delgadillo (+) and Soledad Nogales, is married to Hernán Martínez Argote and has two children, Hernán and Andrea.
After receiving professional and labor orientation courses, started offering its services in a room of the Mutual Association of Blind and Low Vision People of Santa Cruz.
After some time, he became independent, together with a group of colleagues, and with the support of the Club de Leones Hamacas, they installed the room called the Balance Zone, right in March 2020, but the pandemic did not clip its wings.
Where did you professionalize?
I studied nursing at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, in La Paz, I worked at the Hospital del Niño and the Hospital Obrero, at the government headquarters, then I went through Droguería Inti e Ifa, as a medical visitor, I lived the beginning of commercialization del Soat, in the financial entity Fortaleza, Sudamericana de Seguros, and later, I retired.
What is your visual impairment?
Irreversible serous maculopathy in both eyes. The diagnosis indicates that it is progressive.
When did you decide to follow massage therapy courses?
When they told me that I had a visual disability. I was encouraged because I have knowledge of health and medicine, it was in 2017. Caritas Bolivia, the Once of Spain and Agora Bolivia helped me to become a professional and, later, I followed specializations with courses in Argentina and Chile, virtually.
What is the job of the masseur or massage therapist?
Manipulates the soft tissues of the body (muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, and skin). The masseuse uses different degrees of pressure and movement. Massage is part of integrative medicine.
How long has ‘Balance Zone’ been running and what does it offer?
Since 2020 we offer massage therapy, such as reducing, relaxing, decontracting massages, reflexology and lymphatic drainage, except for physiotherapy with equipment; we do therapies to overcome facial paralysis, sciatica and rehabilitation in general.
How was the contact with the Hamacas Lions Club?
Once we left Taiwan massages, which is where we do internships, we decided to become independent. The Hamacas Lions Club provides us with the area, we have conditioned the environment, we have four comfortably distributed spaces, decorated with music therapy and aromatherapy, we produce our oils with herbs and we make natural mates. We are happy here, but we need the support of the population who, apart from feeling good and restoring their health, can help us generate resources.
Who is part of this venture?
We bring together four people with visual disabilities and we are with open arms to all who want to join. The idea is to keep the space to prevent young people with this disability from going to sell sweets, sing on buses, beg and, above all, risk their health. They are trained to perform in this trade.
With ‘Zone of balance’ we want to rescue all colleagues who want to work with us, and that this becomes a source of stable employment. Call us at these phones: North Zone at 692-49497 and 708-10477; home care, at 702-72449; zone 2nd. Ring, at 755-71755 and 700-93934; double via La Guardia at 763-60271 and south zone, at 766-06560. Also in the Mutual for the blind on Av. Busch, by calling 710-40490 and 690-74793.
With the problem of visual impairment, I learned to enjoy life from other angles. Upon receiving the diagnosis I entered a phase of depression, on four occasions I thought of taking my own life, but when I met other people with my condition and saw their courage and strength, I changed my mind, today I am a different person. We need the support of people with all their abilities so that our health problem does not lead us to beg, that is not worthy for anyone. Help me help my colleagues and help me fulfill myself as a professional.
