VOSH Trip to Haiti

My name is Kristin Kern and I will be participating in an eye care mission trip to Haiti this year with VOSH-PA (Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity, Pennsylvania Chapter). We will be travelling to the town of Pont Sonde’, about seventy miles north of the capitol city of Port au Prince. Our group of approximately 12 persons will have three or four eye doctors. The rest of the team will consist of students like me that will help with various tasks. During our week in Haiti we expect to examine anywhere from 1,200 to 1,800 patients ranging from young children to very elderly folks. Many of these people will have never had an eye exam before. I will be given responsibilities such as conducting patient registrations, using equipment to measure vision and eye pressures (to screen for glaucoma), and helping to dispense eyeglasses.

The exams are free of charge for the Haitians as are any eyeglasses provided. Medications will be given to treat disorders such as conjunctivitis, traumatic corneal ulcers, glaucoma and trachoma (the number one cause of blindness in the third world, easily treated with antibiotics). We will have about 5000 pairs of glasses and $30,000 worth of donated medications to use as needed. Surgery for patients with cataracts and severe glaucoma will also be arranged with a surgeon in Port Au Prince. The costs of surgeries are covered in full by VOSH-PA as most Haitians could never afford to pay.
All participants in this mission will be volunteers. We all pay a trip fee to help cover trip related costs including transportation, translators, glasses and the cost of surgeries. During our week in Haiti we will stay in a small hotel next door to an equally small community health center where we will set up our clinic on most days. On one or two other days we may travel to remote villages where we will set up clinic in a church, school or community center. The living conditions in these villages are poor and often leave a lasting impression on those volunteers who have been there.
In addition to the trip fee, I will have to pay for the hotel as well as the airfare to Haiti. I expect that this mission trip will cost me about $1500. You can help me cover this cost by contributing to my fund. Any donations will be used only to help cover my trip fee and trip related expenses. Any funds raised in excess of my personal trip costs will be donated to the VOSH-PA Pont Sonde’ trip fund used exclusively for this mission. I would really appreciate anyone’s support in helping me cover my expenses in participating in this very important mission.
Thank you!