vosh annual report 2016

CLINIC MISSIONS

CHINANDEGA region, NICARAGUA CHIAPAS region, MÉXICO DAJABON, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CHINANDEGA, NICARAGUA MOCA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BAMENDA, CAMEROON

2016

PROGRAMS-PARTNERSHIPS

THE TIN HUT Instituto Superior Eurohispano, Lima, Peru DIME READERS B.A.S.I.C. NICARAGUA COMITANCILLO, GUATEMALA COTUI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

2016

CLINIC MISSIONS CLINIC MISSIONS ARE THE HISTORIC CORE OF VOSH/SOUTHEAST ACTIVITIES, FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS VOSH.SOUTHEAST HAS BEEN EXECUTING CLINIC MISSIONS ON EVERY CONTINENT EXCEPT AUSTRALIA AND ANTARCTICA, THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED PATIENTS HAVE BEEN SEEN, EXAMINED, AND GIFTED WITH APPROPRIATE SPECTACLES WITHOUT CHARGE AND, WHEN POSSIBLE, REFERRED FOR FURTHER NECESSARY OPHTHALMIC TREATMENT. THE VOSH/SOUTHEAST CHAPTER TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN EXECUTING ALL OUR CLINIC MISSIONS WITH THE CLOSEST POSSIBLE SUPPORT FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND INDIGENOUS PROFESSIONALS, CIVIC GROUPS AND NGOS.

HINANDEGA REGION NICARAGUA

DAJABON, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

MOCA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

January 29 - February 6

March 6-12

November 24-27

Suzy Eberle led her first semi-annual

Dr. Evelyn Diaz, prominent Dominican

Drs. Greg Kanel and Evelyn Diaz and

clinic mission to Santa Patricia in

ophthalmologist, Susan Stees, Master

Susan Stees led a team to work in

cooperation with B.A.S.I.C.

Optician and John Gehrig led a team

Moca in support of the civic cataract

Nicaragua, one of our ongoing

to work in Dajabon and Moca in

screening clinic sponsored by

partnerships and FONIPRECE, a

support of civic cataract clinics

Senator Jose Rafael Vargas. We

Nicaraguan foundation devoted to

sponsored by Senators Rosa Sonia

were once again joined by a new

the prevention of avoidable

Mateo Espinosa, Senator of Dajabon

crop of UCF Pre-Optometry

blindness. Clinic stats: Patients seen

Province and Jose Rafael Vargas,

Association

1,366; Cataract Referrals 45; Glasses

Senator of Espaillat Province. This

Students and volunteers working for

dispensed 1,707; ODs on staff 8; Lay

clinic mission was open to pre-

Senator Vargas. Clinic stats:

personnel 19; Surgeries Completed

optometry students at the University

Patients seen 1.615, Cataract and

19.

of Central Florida (largest university

Other Referrals 85; Glasses

CHIAPAS REGION MEXICO

in the United States) and six

dispensed 750; ODs and Opticians

February 22-27

members of the Pre-Optometry

on Staff 6, Pre-Optometry Students

Drs. John Spencer and Lisa Weber led

Association participated. The team

5; Lay Personnel 11,

a VOSH/Southeast team to Chiapa

was supported by members of Dr.

BAMENDA, CAMEROON

de Corzo. Our team enjoyed great

Diaz’s office staff and volunteers

December 10-20

floor help and support from local

working for Senators Espinosa and

Dr, John Spencer did a reprise of his

professionals, the Lions Club and the

Vargas. Clinic stats: Patient seen

Annual African Adventure by

local chapter of the Red Cross. Clinic

808, Cataract Referrals 58, Glasses

conducting clinic mission to

stats: Patients seen 1,499; Cataract

dispensed 507, MDs and Opticians

Bamenda, supported by a

Referrals 69; Glasses dispensed

on Staff 5, Pre-Optometry Students

cosmopolitan VOSH/Southeast team

1,569; ODs Opticians and Optometry

6, Lay Personnel 9

including a galaxy of international

Students on Staff 7; Lay personnel 9

CHINANDEGA, NICARAGUA

professionals. John is renowned for

July 29-August 7

his legendary clinic production and

Suzy Eberle led her second semi-

this trip was in keeping with the

annual clinic mission to Santa

legend. Check out these stats:

Patricia in cooperation with B.A.S.I.C.

Patients seen 3300; Cataract and

Nicaragua, one of our ongoing

Other Referrals 106; Glasses

partnerships and FONIPRECE, a

dispensed 2303; ODs on Staff 12- 7

Nicaraguan foundation devoted to

new Nigerian ODs, 2 New

the prevention of avoidable

Zealanders, 1 Canadian and 2

blindness. Clinic stats: Patients seen

Gringos; RNs 2, Lay personnel 8.

722; Cataract Referrals 32; Glasses dispensed 696; ODs on staff 2; Optometry Students 3: Lay personnel 10; Surgeries Completed 23.

PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS THE TIN HUT Nestled on Lake Weir Road in rural Marion County, Florida is a nondescript group of commercial storage bays - home of the heart of VOSH/Southeast logistical operation. This complex is affectionately known to SE VOSHers as the “Tin Hut” -at any time within which are stored tens of thousands of glasses, eyeglass frames and lenses , piles of new and reconditioned optometric equipment and God only knows what else having to do with eyeballs. The Tin Hut is managed by Max Bruss, V/SE Vice President-Operations and his able and dedicated assistant, Lowell Rice.

The Tin Hut is in daily operation supplying support to V/SE partners in support of their charitable visual health service programs throughout this hemisphere.

Described below are a few of the major visual health programs who depend on V/SE for the material life blood of their efforts-

PROVINCES OF ESPAILLAT AND DAJABON Dominican Republic Under the sponsorship of Senator Rosa Sonia Mateo Espinosa of Dajabon Province and Jose Rafael Vargas of Espillat Province, Dr. Evelyn Diaz and her staff conduct frequent sight screenings throughout these provinces. The objective of these screenings is to discover which inhabitants require cataract or other corrective surgery and which inhabitants require spectacles to correct refractive error. V/SE supplies thousands of reading lasses and highest quality frames and lenses and IOLs to support this effort. V/SE also sends “brigades” to join in these efforts and sponsors equipment repair missions to keep the optometric equipment of the Senadores running and in good order.

DIME READERS The EyeDoctors, a multi-office optometric practice in Nebraska, generously supports V/SE through substantial financial donations as part of the firm’s “Gift Of Glasses Program. The EyeDoctors donations are a huge contribution to the cost of V/SE’s “Dime Readers” Program. This program enables V/SE to donate brand new reading glasses to church missions, charitable groups and other NGOs who are engaged in distributing free eyeglasses To those in need within developing nations. V/SE charges recipient groups only ten cents per pair to cover the costs of packing and transportation.

B.A.S.I.C. NICARAGUA B.A.S.I.C. Nicaragua is actively engaged in ameliorating the lives of economically disadvantaged folks in Nicaragua through providing housing, education and sight care. The organization is supported by various segments of the Lutheran Church and V/SE supports the material needs of B.A.S.I.C.’s visual health program. B.A.S.I.C. has recently begun a cooperative effort with FONIPRECE, a Nicaraguan NGO providing cataract surgeries, and V/SE supports this effort through the donation of IOLs and financial support. B.A.S.I.C. is also engaged in the development of an optometric clinic and lab in Chinandega to which V/SE is donating equipment, supplies and ongoing support.

COMITANCILLO, GUATEMALA Ovidio Garcia Salvador, missionary and optometrist, operates a eye surgery and optometric clinic high in the mountains of Western Guatemala serving an area so remote that most of the region’s inhabitant speak a Mayan language called Mam. V/SE periodically furnishes Ovidio with lab and clinic equipment, frames, lenses and other supplies so he can pursue this visual health mission. This relationship was fostered through the existing partnership of V/SE and Christian Broadcasting Network through V/SE member Glenn Lashley, who serves as the Medical missions Coordinator for the Christian Broadcasting Network.

COTUI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Daniel Hearaldo Cruz, an ophthalmic technician graduate of the Dr. Elias Santana Hospital in Santiago de los Caballeros, heads the Fundacion para la Vision y Prevencion de la Ceguera in Cotui, D.R. Daniel and two local ophthalmologists have instituted a program for corrective vision surgery, offering free cataract and strabismus correction. VOSH/SE supplies the Foundation with equipment and supplies to enable the Foundation to accomplish its mission.

INSTITUTO SUPERIOR EUROHISPANO, LIMA, PERU V/SE enjoys a long standing and very active partnership with Severo Sanchez Melgarejo and his prominent school of optometry, Instituto Superior Eurohispano. Over the past decade Severo and his school have hosted over a dozen V/SE clinic mission teams throughout Peru and, through our relationship, Severo has hosted many VOSH teams from other chapters and teams from other NGOs. V/SE supports Instituto Superior with the frames and lenses necessary for its student and Rotary teams to execute visual health clinics throughout Peru. Instituto Superior also acts as a supply depot from which many other charitable groups and NGOs can draw optometric supplies donated by V/SE for the efforts of these organizations throughout Peru.

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9,310 Patients Seen 389 Cataract Referrals 7,532 Spectacles Dispensed

Our goal is to eradicate untreated refractive error–that is– to help people see again by correcting their vision with glasses. And once they can see, they can improve the quality of their lives and their own vision for a future for generations to come.

Partnership | We believe in the power of partnership. Our partners make us more effective in our humanitarian operations and they help us serve our ultimate partner: The recipients of our aid.

Interested in an upcoming mission?

Please support us by becoming a member today!

May - Dominican Republic July - Nicaragua Fall, TBD VOSH Southeast Welcomes and Encourages New Members! !Your yearly membership fee of just $35.00 helps to support our cause in bringing eye care to underprivileged countries.

If you are a student of Optometry, you can join for just 20.00 per year.

You do not have to live in the Southeastern States to be a member, in fact we have members from all over the world! Being a member does not obligate you to go on missions, we feel that is a personal choice.

Yes for less then a pennies a day you can be part of a wonderful organization, people helping people to see again! Please join now!

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