Every year the doctor’s office helps Dr. Valckenier, where Tom works, has 4,000 patients and more than 12,000 consultants. Together with his colleagues, he is a general practitioner for 1,400 people like Jeroen who fall outside the regular healthcare system. “He is incredibly accurate,” says Jeroen. “Two or three weeks ago he sprayed out my ears, well thirty-five years of gunk came out.”
Our city has more than 11,000 homeless people, including fourteen children living on the streets. A recent count shows that 9,619 adults and 1,446 children are homeless in Amsterdam. This amounts to a total of 11,065 people, more than one percent of the city’s population. Appropriate care for homeless people therefore remains necessary, Jeroen also emphasizes. “I am very grateful to him, he has given my life meaning again.”
Exhibition
The photos show street doctors with their patients from all over the country and tell the stories of street care providers who make a difference every day. Through ten portraits, reportage photos and mini podcasts, spectators can get an idea of what is involved in the profession.
The traveling exhibition can be seen in the town hall in the Stopera until the end of December.