Medical Mission Opportunity in the Remote Himalaya April 2016
October 26, 2015
Two optometrists are needed to join a team of 12 medical professionals in providing care for 12
Read MoreOctober 26, 2015
Two optometrists are needed to join a team of 12 medical professionals in providing care for 12
Read MoreOctober 03, 2015
Eye Care International needs one more optometrist for one or both weeks and we could use another
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2015
We are once again looking for eyecare volunteers for Grundy,Virginia October 3 &4,2015
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2015
We are in desperate need for an optometrist on the upcoming clinic in Guerrero, Chihuahua, Mexico October
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2015
I am reaching out to other Student Presidents hoping to collect ideas on fundraising for our mission
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2015
Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI) is a non-profit organization located in Belize Central America. We
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2015
Pacific University College of Optometry SVOSH (AMIGOS) is travelling to Tanzania December 12th – December 22nd
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2015
If your team is looking for a supply of hats to donate to your patients, I
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2015
Hopeful Ways is an all-volunteer non-profit organization looking for optometrist and optician volunteers for a medical mission
Read MoreSeptember 27, 2015
Two optometrists are needed to join a team of medical professionals in providing care for 12 days
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