March 2023 Newsletter

This month we feature teaching clinics between our US VOSH and international SVOSH chapters of Haiti and Mexico, President Ciszek reflects on the challenges of evolving legislation, we congratulate SVOSH-UAL on the inauguration of its clinic, share an important paper on the prevalence of refractive error of Puerto Rican children and opportunities from our partners.

President's Insights

In the last couple of months, I discussed the potential benefits and abuses of current and upcoming technology in providing patients access to eye health and vision care and how working with other eye care and health professionals can benefit our patients by increasing access to quality and respectful care. Of course, this depends on each region's widely varying laws and regulations. Keeping abreast of these changing guidelines can be daunting within the 50 states of the United States of America, let alone globally. Read the whole article here.

Celebrating World Optometry with actions

Second Teaching clinic for the graduating class

of the Haitian School of Optometry

Haiti is a country where VOSH-PA and VOSH/International have a solid commitment and history of service. The challenges facing this country are big. Our commitment to supporting the development of optometry through the SVOSH chapter at the Université d’Etat d’Haiti is equally strong. We are delighted to inform you that the second teaching clinic for the graduating class of the Haitian school of optometry is currently taking place at the New Hope Hospital in Cap Haïtien. The eleven students of the graduating class are once again working with the VOSH-PA team. The New Hope Hospital has built an eye clinic which VOSH-PA and VOSH/International wish to help equip. This clinic will ensure that the new Haitian optometrists and the classes following them have a safe place to have supervised practice and offer optometric services to the local community. Next month we will share a complete report on this work and how you can help. For more information contact vosh@vosh.org.

VOSH-AZ leads teaching clinic for three Mexican schools of optometry

In early March, the VOSH-AZ team travelled to Hermosillo, Mexico to hold its first humanitarian clinic after the pandemic. Regulars to this part of Mexico, the VOSH-AZ team decided to engage in VOSH/International teaching clinic initiative and invited representatives of three Mexican schools of optometry to join them, namely: the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (SVOSH-UAA), the Universidad Autónoma de la Laguna (SVOSH-UAL) and the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa (SVOSH-UAS) to join their clinic. Three students of Midwestern University (SVOSH-AZCOPT) were also represented. Read about this experience and enjoy more pictures here.

Optometry clinic opens at the Mexican Universidad Autónoma de la Laguna (UAL)

Congratulations to the optometry program at the Universidad Autónoma de la Laguna and its active SVOSH-UAL chapter on the inauguration of their clinic last March 7th. The clinic was equipped with donations from VOSH/International Technology Transfer Program (TTP) and became a reality through the incredibly hard work of ... Read the whole article here .

World Down Syndrome Day at UAL

For World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), UAL in collaboration with the municipality of Lerdo offered optometric services to young patients in their new clinic. WDSD is a global awareness day observed by the United Nations since 2012. The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome. An article in Spanish on this activity can be found here.

News from our partners

Applications open for the Optometry Program in Advocacy and Leadership (OPAL)

The World Council of Optometry is pleased to announce that the 2023 Advocacy and Leadership Course, "Looking Towards the Future: Optometry Program in Advocacy and Leadership (OPAL)," will be held from June 1 - August 28. Applications close on April 17^th, 2023. If you are interested please contact enquiries@worldoptometry.org

Eyes on Myopia virtual event. April 7-8

By 2050, nearly 50% of the world’s population will be diagnosed with myopia, making this one of the most urgent eyecare crises of our generation—especially for your youngest patients. Join this virtual event featuring over 20 speakers and offering up to 6 hours of FREE virtual CE credits. Register here

Interesting publications

Prevalence of refractive errors in children in Puerto Rico

This paper was published by the International Journal of Ophthalmology (IJOP) and features research carried out by the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico led by our own Dr. Hector Santiago and his team. Read the article here.

The State of Women and Leadership in Global Health

Today, women hold around 70% of health worker jobs globally. Despite their contribution to health systems and supporting the realization of health for all, women only hold 25% of senior membership roles in the sector. Check the report here.

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