Fill your VOSH coffee cup, put on your VOSH t-shirt, and join us!

The VOSH Mid-Year Meeting is  going to be held virtually this year

 

The virtual meeting will be organized as a series of independent sessions held throughout Saturday June 27, 2020 via Zoom.  We hope that this format will also enable our US and international chapters to participate.

We will provide the information needed for all chapters to connect at least one week in advance.  Chapters will be able to pick and choose the webinars they want to attend.

As we are expecting participants from all corners of the USA, the meeting will start at 8am PST/10am CST/11am EST.

More information below and more will be coming to your inbox. If you have questions, contact VOSH/International Executive Director Maria Arce Moreira at arce@VOSH.org

VOSH 2020 Flyer-midyear meeting revised

UpdatedCOVID19-August2021

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, 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 is 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.

Thus, VOSH/International is slightly moderating its overall guidance against clinics and travel issued in late March 2020 and renewed in January 2021. This will be reviewed and communicated on a quarterly basis.

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 Organisation: 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.

John Daniel Twelker, OD, PhD, FAAO, FVI

President, VOSH/International

July 2021

Updated Statement on COVID-19 and VOSH clinics

June Medical Clinic to Ocho Rios, Jamaica needs ODs

Join SVOSH-Berkeley and Alliance of Jamaican and American Humanitarians (AOJAH) as part of a team of 100 volunteers to provide medical and eye care to 2000 Jamaicans from impoverished rural villages.

June 13-20 to Ocho Rios, Jamaica  

There will be 8 ODs and 16 students, but we are still looking for 4 ODs.

Volunteers take care of plane flights, and cost is $700 for all-inclusive resort (hotel, food, drinks) and mission costs.

If interested, contact:  Maxwell.x.cheng@kp.org

The February 29-March 7 clinic to Cap Haitien, Haiti (VOSH-PA) is in need of ophthalmic tech(s) and lay volunteer(s). Please contact Mark Rakoczy, OD mrakoczy831@gmail.com