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October 2024 Newsletter

October was full of activities and President Santiago offers a summary of VOSH activities in Quito, Ecuador. We share a snapshot of VOSH chapters activities for World Sight Day and a graphic report of our meeting in Quito as well as an invitation to join us for next week's meeting in Indianapolis.


President's Insights

This month President Santiago provides an overview of the VOSH meeting in Quito, Ecuador. You can read the whole article in English here.


The Spanish version is here.


The Indianapolis meeting is around the corner

Are you joining us?


On November 9th between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm (US Eastern Time-Indianapolis time) our Annual Meeting in the US will be held at Hine Hall, Indiana University, Indianapolis Campus. The program for the day is here.


To attend in person you can register here.


If you want to join online, you can do it here or visit our website here.


Our booth at the American Academy of Optometry exhibit is No 1122. Come and say hello.

World Sight Day 2024

We are 100% ...


VOSH/International has 113 affiliated VOSH and SVOSH chapters in 32 countries. Each chapter offers free eye health and vision care to communities in need. As the biggest global network of volunteer optometrists, our chapters organized several activities for World Sight Day.


A small selection of this important work is below


SVOSH @ Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal - Peru


In collaboration with the Lions Club La Molina, SVOSH-UNFV organised a vision clinic for the community of Villa Hermosa in Lomas de Manchay, southeast of Lima. They saw 107 patients among children and adults. Patients were offered free glasses. SVOSH-UNFV is 100% commitment to its patients. More information:Marco Chuquisengo, faculty adviser SVOSH-UNFV at mchuquisengo@unfv.edu.pe

SVOSH @ Manila Central Univeristy - The Philippines


This year SVOSH-MCU held a Slogan contest to inspire action to Love Your Eyes. The winner of the digital design slogan was Axel Gallarde called "Watch the world glow one blink at a time". The winner for the hand drawn slogan was Gianne Franco Salacup with "Bright eyes, big smiles". Congratulations to the winners. SVOSH-MCU is 100% creativity. More information: Jennifer Lyn Vinola, faculty adviser SVOSH-MCU at drjennvinola@yahoo.com


VOSH-Illinois and SVOSH-ICO


In Chicago, USA, VOSH-Il and SVOSH-ICO partner to offer services to victims of gender violence who are supported by Apna Ghar. These chapters are 100% compassion and diginity in care. More information: Dr Tracy Matchinski, faculty adviser SVOSH-ICO at matchinski@vosh.org


VOSH-FUMVISION Dominican Republic


In partnership with the Municipal Hospital Dr. Rafael Cantisano Arias, VOSH-FUMVISION offered a humanitarian clinic for 150 patients. Patients were offered free reading, prescription and sunglasses. Sixteen patients were referred to the hospital's opthalmologist. VOSH-FUMVISION is 100% collaboration for their capacity to build strong collaboration with other eye care professionals. More information: Enyel Rodriguez, President VOSH-FUMVISION at fundacionporunamejorvision@hotmail.com

VOSH-Pennsylvania


VOSH-Pennsylvania is a loyal friend of Haiti. Drs Mark Rakoczy and Mike Satryan together with Haitian graduating optometry students Abigail Adjanie Auguste (in red), Mirlène Touissant (in black), and Rolande Escanier (in blue) saw 665 patients of which 19 were referred for cataracts, 4 for pterygia and two for diabetic retinopathy. It was a busy week of work with happy outcomes and very sad ones too. The team was delighted to have the three Haitian optometrists on board, as their previous visit in March was cancelled due to insecurity in Port au Prince. 



The students received their trial lens sets and charts, a small graduating gift from VOSH/International to the first class of Haitian optometrists. VOSH-PA and the Haitian optometry students are 100% resilience. For more information: Dr Mark Rakozcy, President VOSH-PA rakoczy@vosh.org

VOSH-VCA-Lebanon


VOSH-Lebanon is committed to help the Lebanese displaced people with the provision of eye care and hygiene kits and awareness materials to prevent eye infections and appropriate eye care in these dire circumstances. Over 100 Lebanese optometrists are ready to assist their people. VOSH-Lebanon is 100% hope. Support VOSH-Lebanon Eye on Lebanon Campaign. You can also donate via VOSH/International.  For more information: Ameer Abou Adela, President VOSH-VCA-Lebanon 

ameer.abouadela@hotmail.com

A snapshot of VOSH/International meeting in Quito

A short report of our meeting in Quito


We are back from Ecuador and soon will be heading to Indianapolis for our second meeting.


We are delighted to share a brief report of our activities in Quito, Ecuador between October 24th and 27th. VOSH volunteers shared knowledge with optometry educators and leaders of Latin America, practical clinical skills with Ecuadorian optometry students, donated equipment and devices to our SVOSH chapters and collaboarated in a humanitarian clinic with the Federation of Optometrists of Ecuador.


An exciting Ambassador's visit will be featured in the next newsletter.


Read the report here. A big thanks to all the VOSH volunteers and our visionary sponsor, National Vision, who made this work possible.

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