<strong>Proposal: Volunteer Vision Screening Program in Kumasi, Ghana October 2022<br /></strong><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/66194607_1666038423106194_r.jpg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="66194607_1666038423106194_r.jpg" /><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/66194607_1666038397815440_r.jpg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="66194607_1666038397815440_r.jpg" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/66194607_1666038316501088_r.jpg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="66194607_1666038316501088_r.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:900;"><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/66194607_1656283769506344_r.jpeg" alt="66194607_1656283769506344_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /></span>


<div> 

</div>


<div><strong>Mission:</strong><br /><br />Our mission is to identify children with poor vision before it leads to blindness. We will ask the community to identify specific children who they think have poor vision but will also screen all the children in the specified community. <br />We will screen at-risk children by examining for ‘cross-eyes’, using a universal eye chart, and reviewing a reading chart. <br /><br />The identified children will then have an opportunity to try the donated eyeglasses to meet their vision needs. To serve approximately 200 children, we will send approximately 1,000 donated labelled eyeglasses ahead of our arrival. Customs and storage will need to be arranged locally. <br /><br />Our system has been successful in orphanages and outlying communities in Mbeya, Tanzania (The Olive Branch for Children) and Aboisso, Cote D’Ivoire (SOS Children Villages).<br /> <br /><br /><strong>Impact of our Work:</strong><br />
<div>Early detection and correction of vision issues can prevent blindness and allow for increased education and access to work compared to if not detected or corrected. By way of example, if one eye has poorer vision then the other, the brain shuts off the impaired eye, leading to permanent blindness. If we can identify children before the age of 6 years with such a problem and correct the vision in that eye with glasses, the brain will maintain the eye’s function. In other words, early detection can make the difference between sight and blindness, impacting an individual’s future.  <br /><br />We estimate that we will be able to assess at least 200 children during our visit. The system works best if we can set up in a quiet well lighted room, with a minimum of 25 feet between child and eye chart. 

</div>


<div><br /><br /><strong>Method:</strong><br /><br />We work with community leaders (e.g., teachers, village leaders, community health workers, etc.) to assemble children and youth who present with vision problems, as well as any children who have not received any vision screening in the past or would otherwise have no access to screening.<br />
<div> 

</div>
We will assess vision of each child/youth using an ‘eye-chart’ and identify ‘cross-eye’ using the ‘light-reflex’. <br />We will also train key community contacts to allow for sustainability in the program.<br /><br />Following screening we will match eye glasses to child in need of correction through the provision of donated eyeglasses. <br /><br />
<div><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/66194607_1656278437481878_r.jpeg" alt="66194607_1656278437481878_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />
</div>


<div> 

</div>
<strong>Who we are:</strong><br /><br />There will be four volunteers: Dr. Steven Moss (Pediatrician at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and Private Practitioner); Devin O’Neill (Epidemiologist and Immigration Lawyer with extensive work in West, East, and Southern Africa); Corinne Moss (Graduate of McMaster University Bachelor of Health Sciences and enrolled in a Master of Education Program at the University of Ottawa); and Nolan Moss (Graduate of the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Finance).<br /><br />Note that we are family, acting on our own resources. We do not have any organization backing our volunteer mission. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Ensuring a sustainable project:</strong><br /><br />To make the project sustainable, we will teach community members how use the Snellen Eye Chart so they may detect young children who require glasses. By identifying those in need, they can receive the appropriate help before their condition worsens. We may teach those who are interested in learning through demonstrating and explaining the process. We will leave an eye chart and the un-used eyeglasses in the community and can set up a system to send more eyeglasses from Canada as new children with vision issues are identified. <br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/66194607_1656278337673262_r.jpeg" alt="66194607_1656278337673262_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />
</div>


<div><strong><br /></strong><strong>Identifying poor vision early is the most i</strong><strong>mportant goal:</strong>

</div>


<div><br /> All those screened should also be given the chance to visit a local trained health professional who can confirm proper fitting and assist with more complex vision issues. Ideally, we would like to find a way to create a system whereby care could be facilitated to support more complex issues. <br /><br /> Providing screening and corrective lenses to those who are visually impaired will give them the tools to further their education, improve their ability to perform everyday tasks, and may ultimately impact their future quality of life/economic earning potential.   <br /><br /> Providing screening and corrective lenses to those who are visually impaired will give them the tools to further their education, improve their ability to perform everyday tasks, and may ultimately impact their future quality of life/economic earning potential.   <br /><br /> <br /><br /> 

</div>


<div><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/66194607_165628410862060_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="66194607_165628410862060_r.jpeg" />
</div>


</div>


<div> 

</div>

Nicole Aylwin

Gavin Pitchford

Ines Fernandez

Miriam and Ron

Josh Resnick

Anonymous

Florence Sandok

Brian Goodness

Dave and Michelle Mittler

Morrie Hartman

Jeff and Jen Mittler

Rachel Chan-Lo

Deborah Shields

Christine Sokoloff

Sean O Goodness

Curtis Maloley

Ray Wolf

Provide Vision Screening to Underserved Children

Provide Vision Screening to Underserved Children

Still $4,592 to go. Help us build momentum.