Vision Health International looking for Optometrist to join mission
October 12, 2017
Vision Health International is reaching out regarding an upcoming Mission Trip to La Entrada, Honduras on December 2-10, 2017. VHI
Read MoreOctober 12, 2017
Vision Health International is reaching out regarding an upcoming Mission Trip to La Entrada, Honduras on December 2-10, 2017. VHI
Read MoreOctober 03, 2017
VOSH- IL (Clinic Leader: Natalie Venezia) worked with the Kiwanis of Panama City in 2007 and had
Read MoreOctober 03, 2017
VOSH-Santa Cruz, Montreal is going to Guatemala on February 14-24, 2018, with stopover in Panama for some sun before
Read MoreAugust 03, 2017
Volunteers needed for a VOSH Pennsylvania trip to Port au Prince , Haiti January 13-20, 2018. Join our
Read MoreJune 15, 2017
HISTORIC VOSH-ILLINOIS: JUNE CHAPTER OF THE MONTH An extraordinary four decades of history and level of activity
Read MoreJune 11, 2017
Date: 24 March 2017 Name: John Robert Email: plow127ug@gmail.com Please tell us in which category to post
Read MoreJune 11, 2017
FROM: Roger Clapp Himalayan Cataract Project 57 So Main St. PO Box 55, VT Waterbury/05676 United States
Read MoreJune 11, 2017
Date: 28 November 2016 Name: John Avudria Email: javudria@gmail.com Please tell us in which category to post
Read MoreMay 12, 2017
VOSH-Santa Cruz , Montreal (Quebec) is looking for more ODs for 2 upcoming missions: Casimero Castillo, Mexico
Read MoreMay 11, 2017
VOSH-Texas has been selected as the VOSH May Chapter of the Month! For it’s extraordinary work at
Read MoreVOSH/International believes in the freedom to see. Providing the gift of vision and eye health to people worldwide. We facilitate the provision and the sustainability of vision care worldwide for people who can neither afford nor obtain such care. Our goal is to increase our global impact whenever possible by supporting sustainable eye clinics, optometry schools and optometric educators in areas lacking sufficient eye care.
Updated COVID-19 and VOSH Humanitarian Clinics Advice
VOSH/International recently consulted its US and International Chapters about the feasibility and timing to restart our humanitarian clinics. While the vaccination process continues with different levels of success depending on availability and acceptance, it is evident that vaccine inequity and the availability and reliability of data in several countries are issues we need to consider.
Even if already vaccinated and boosted, our chapters are still concerned about the wellbeing of our volunteers and patients. Some chapters, are organizing clinics locally where they are better able to comply with the existing safety requirements and respective state/country regulations.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its variants are being experienced quite differently depending on state, region, country, vaccine availability, vaccine acceptance, and the spread of SARS-COV-2 variants. Most VOSH chapters are not holding clinics or traveling internationally in 2021 or 2022.
If a VOSH Chapter choses to hold a clinic or travel internationally, we highly recommend that the chapter performs due diligence to comply fully with the requirements established by the visited country, ensures all VOSH volunteers are aware of and follow strict safety guidelines and all existing protocols and regulations of the country, and keeps the principle of “do no harm” embedded in all its decision making. As always, the wellbeing and safety for VOSH volunteers and our patients is of utmost importance and central to any decision-making process. We have published our updated clinic guidelines with best practices to be observed in this new context. VOSH chapters in specific countries are using protocols that need to be considered as well. You can download VOSH/International clinic guidelines here.
*VOSH/International is formed by autonomous US and international chapters that are fully and only responsible for their activities, fundraising and decision-making. VOSH/International can only provide recommendations based on our best knowledge and information at the time.
Also please keep checking the following sites with official and most recent updates:
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
US CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/when-to-delay-travel.html
US Government Travel Advise: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/COVID-19-Country-Specific-Information.html
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to improving vision and eye health throughout the world.
Michael Ciszek, OD, dipl ABO, FVI
President, VOSH/International
December 2021