VOSH/International maintains this Message Board as a service to the Humanitarian Community. VOSH/International, its officers and directors, can not and will not be responsible for the accuracy or sincerity of the contents of any message posted on this board. We try our very best but it is just impossible to make guarantees regarding the reliability of either the person posting the message or the message contents.

I was made aware of VOSH a few years ago while on a mission trip in Esteli, Nicaragua with my church. I told myself then that my next mission would be doing what I know best, which is fitting eyeglasses. I have seen that there are occasions when an optician is needed. I only want to go where I can be put to good use. There doesn't appear to be an active chapter in Florida at the moment, which is where I'm from, so please let me know if and when there is a need. Sincerely, Robin Morrison

Hello, I am organizing an eye mission to Haiti this March 2012 to provide eye care to the underprivileged.  The dates somewhat flexible based on what works the best for all who can volunteer.   The dates will be either from March 11-17 or March 24-30.  We need optometrist, opticians, & volunteers. We will go to 2 separate areas, providing eye care for 2 days in each area.  We will spend 1 additional day seeing the people in the field.   If any of these days work for you, please let me know. Thanks and feel free to email or call with any questions or if you need more information. Anshu Chandra, OD 518-229-7494

Lions in Sight clinic in Peru - April, 2012 is in need of 3 ODs for the April 23-27, 2012 clinic in Lima, Peru. The only cost to the ODs would be their airfare - the Lima Lions will provide accommodations, meals and transportation for all team members. We are tentatively scheduled to fly to Lima on Saturday, April 21 for a 4 day clinic in Lima (Monday, April 23 to Friday, April 27, with a rest day on Wednesday, April 25). From there, we will fly to Cusco on Saturday, April 28 for a visit to Machu Picchu. Most team members will probably return home on May 2 or 3. We will be working with the local Lions to plan this post-clinic trip to Machu Picchu. Interested doctors can contact me at the e-mail address below. Joy Sarver, OD, MPH drjsarver@gmail.com (925) 932-4310 phone

Proposed date 4/13/12 for Tobago and South Trinidad sponsored by Lions Club, District 60A. For more information Lion Annette or nigel@islandeyestt.com

Optometrist needed to join Eye Team to Haiti March 18 to 24, 2012 at St. Boniface Hospital in Fond des Blancs. Stay in hospital residence; clean, comfortable, indoor plumbing, food prepared especially for American dietary concerns. I would like to work with someone to bring a team to our hospital in Haiti once a year.www.haitihealth.org Contact Rita Russo at 781-762-4391 or rita.a.russo@verizon.net

Name: Catherine Todd Email: ctodd1000@gmail.com Message: Do you have groups coming to Guatemala? We are at Lake Atitlan and hoping to find optometry services to aid the Mayan beaders and artisans that I work with here. I have added your organization to our free online database. Please send info for updates or corrections. Thanks, Catherine Todd LakeAtitlanDirectory.com

I'm a recent graduate in optics and Optometry and I would be very interest in your initiative to partecipate as a volunteer. I studied in Italy, Milan-Bicocca University and currently I am doing a Master in Optometry and Vision in Madrid/Spain. If there were any plans to leave for the summer-autumn please let me know, at the moment I'm out of work. Yours sincerly, Dr.Marianna Auma Atim Nyeko

I'm a senior undergraduate student at Virginia Tech majoring in Biology and I'm hoping to attend an optometry school after graduation. I'm also minoring in Spanish and can speak it fluently. I saw there are clinics in El Salvador, Costa Rica, or Honduras during March. I was wondering if I could participate as a volunteer on any of these trips. I think it would be an incredible experience to be able to lend a helping hand during any of these clinics. My spring break will be from March 3rd to 11th so I will be available during this time. Natalia Malaret

Guayaquil and Cuenca, Ecuador departure April 30th 2012 . We are looknig for more Ods for this misison. We will ahve 4 days in Guayaquil then we head up to Cuenca for 4 days. We have some time off as well and we are heading to visit Quito . Please contact me for further information

Please see the link here to read Vision Aid Overseas posted policy on transitioning out of using recycled spectacles. WHO, IAPB and Vision 2020 recommend against using recycled spectacles and an increasing number of Ministries of Health are also no longer accepting the use of recycled spectacles. The time has come to change.

Mobile Medical Mission Hospital needs eye doctors for May 27-June 3, 2012. Multi medical 5 day program in pleasant surrounding.

Fidel Caesar

Coordinator,
Medical Relief Association Inc.,
Box 1304, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Tel contact: (784) 533 6600

Dear VOSH: I have been helping out a friend with an upcoming VOSH mission. I have a question regarding expired medications. I have a practitioner here at my hospital who is interested in the program and the donation of supplies, but is concerned about 'liability'. Does anyone have a PDF of a document or advice regarding this that I can provide him with to assuage doubt or concern? This is my first experience working on a medical mission. It's very gratifying. Thank you for your time and consideration. Eric Cagwin RN Palliative Care Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital Chicago IL, 60657 ph. 773-296-7943 Long Range page: 773-713-7330 email: erikchicago@yahoo.com

hello everybody. Im from Puerto Rico, we start the chapter formally this october/2011. puerto rico have been working with vosh-international for some years but never open a real chapter. i decide to open one to help the people and not only in puerto rico but in other country. Im looking for contacts to start making missions outside puerto rico. we are new but any help we can give in the missions contact me, we have many doctors and students of optometry looking to help. thanks all augusto_carrion@hotmail.com 787-390-6337 facebook: Augusto E Carrion

we are a pretty small group (9 students on the executive) and we've only been around for a few years. As such, we don't have as many resources to organize our own missions and mostly rely on piggy-back missions with other groups. Currently, we have a few students going on 2 missions next summer with VOSH Santa Cruz (Montreal), but there are a lot more students that are interested.

If any of you have any openings or are willing to include us on any future missions you have we would greatly appreciate it :)

Please keep me posted if anything comes up!

Thank you

Jenna Snow, Pres
SVOSH-Waterloo

Hello, my name is Laura Ramirez and I am looking to try and set up a mission going to Aldea La Victoria, San Juan Ost Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. My boyfriend is from there, along with almost all of the Hispanics here in Harper, Kansas. I was trying to think of everything I could to help the people from there, then I remembered an eye doctor by the name of Dr. Groman in Pandora, Ohio..(he was our dr. when we lived there.). I had sent him an e-mail and they asked me to get ahold of your organization. As far as a place to hold the clinic, my boyfriend's dad has connections at the church and can get use of that. As far as notifying the locals of the clinics, we can put his family on their own mission of notifying them...they already agreed, when we ran the idea past them.) I am not sure how this all works, can I please get all the information possible on this matter. They are also in need of regular doctor, but I don't know where to even start to look. I can and am willing to put together a fundraiser here in Harper, Kansas to help with anything that is needed. I am also willing to travel there myself, and if something can be arranged,is it possible for us to go along? Please help, I am frantically looking for answers.. Thank You, Laura Ramirez 6206052909

VOSH, AZ is planning a mission to Miguel Aleman, Sonora, Mex. 02/25 - 03/03/2012. We need doctors. It is very pleasant (not too hot or too cold and we have terrific hosts. Miquel Aleman is a farming community about 30 miles from Hermosillo, Sonora. We will be staying in beautiful Kino Bay. We will convoy south from Tucson & Phoenix on the 25th. It is an easy day trip. We will work Mon. and Tues. and Thurs. and Friday. Wed. will be our rest and fun day. There is also an international airport in Hermosillo and we pick up Drs. arriving there.

VOSH Michigan organizing eye team for San Carlos Mexico 2012 The dates are March 23 - April 1

next vosh delval mission is to milot, haiti working with crudem jan 1-7, ,2012 and another OD is needed.

Re: Future mission collaborating with surgical team...Contact Dr Stark. I am a practicing general ophthalmologist at Valley Eye Institute (www.valleyeyeinstiute.com ) in Sidney, Ohio. I specialize in cataract surgery, however I also perform glaucoma shunts, pterygium excision, and various oculoplastics proceedures. I was initially asked by the pastor of our church to consider a medical/ surgical mission to the SOLT Mission in Hinch. I have been in contact with Father Glenn at the SOLT Mission as well as VOSH to try and coordinate post-op care. Father Glenn indicated a need for approximately 60-70 cataract surgeries as previously screened by VOSH from a January 2010 trip to the Mission. At present I would like to plan a trip to the SOLT Mission for cataract surgeries from Feb. 11th-18th, 2012. I will be bringing all supplies and equipment necessary. The group would consist of myself as well as one other cataract surgeon, a CRNA, an RN, 2 opthalmic technicians, and 1 medical optometrist to deliver the patient care. I am in the process of acquiring a CV from all planning to participate in patient care, which I will forward to you when available. I look forward to hearing from you along with your guidance and any suggestions you can provide. Sincerely, Michael L. Stark