For its amazing work and dedication to the people of Haiti, in both short term clinics and developing the first optometry school working with other partners including OGS , VOSH/International and more, we are pleased to recognize VOSH-Pennsylvania as the September Chapter of the Month.
Former chapter and VOSH/International President Dave McPhillips, OD provided the inspired story of activity and signed an agreement with the new School with the Haitian Rector and Dean of the Faculty of the Medical School. Also check out the link to the video on one of VOSH-PA missions to Pont Sonde, Haiti at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOP-pwV8ya4&sns=em
From Dr. McPhillips:
VOSH-PA has done 4 outreach trips to Haiti in 2017, 3 to northern Haiti and 1 to the south. 3 of the 4 trips were also working with Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) who donated supplies and surgical volunteers for cataract surgeries, working alongside Haitian ophthalmologists. During the 4 trips over 6000 patients were examined, with 80% of them receiving prescription and/or sun glasses and hats to protect them from the sun. 15% were referred to Haitian ophthalmologists for cataract . glaucoma and pterygium surgery, with this surgery sponsored (read paid for) by Vosh PA and ongoing year round. During the recent July trip Vosh- PA cofounder Dr. David Mcphillips flew from northern Haiti to the University of Haiti in Port au Prince to meet with the Rector of the university and Dean of the faculty of medicine to sign a memorandum of agreement to start the first optometry school in Haiti in october 2017.
