2011 Port Antonio, Jamaica
Doctors Larry and Michael Morrison from Morrison Eye Care would like to thank all of the volunteers who participated in, and helped support, the 2011 VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity), mission to Port Antonio, Jamaica. With out the countless hours of service and dedication from American and Jamaican volunteers the mission would not have been impossible.
A special thanks needs to be given to Dr. Satya Parvataneni, (Dr.P) and the Jamaican people for their exceptional hospitality. Dr. P is a local physician in Port Antonio and an active member of Rotary. He and his fellow Rotarians are dedicated to the health and well being of the people of Port Antonio. He has been instrumental in hosting over 20 VOSH mission in addition to countless surgical missions.
There where seventeen Americans and one Canadian volunteer, including doctors and laypersons that made the journey to Jamaica.
- Dr. Larry Morrison, optometrist; noon Rotarian, Detroit Lakes, MN
- Dr. Michael Morrison, optometrist; morning Rotarian, Detroit Lakes, MN
- Dr. Brad Meier, optometrist, Lions member, Watertown, SD
- Dr. John Emery, physician, Kiwanian, Detroit Lakes, MN
- Christina Morrison, Detroit Lakes, MN
- Jolene Meier, Watertown, SD
- Jay Meier, Watertown, SD
- Tim and Cheri Bergien, Tim is a noon Rotarian, Detroit lakes, MN
- Greg and Gina Nosal Brad and Janet Green, both noon Rotarians, Detroit lakes, MN
- Jackie Green, Princeville, KY
- Ryan Thompson, Fargo, ND
- Amber Link, Dallas, TX
- Sara Fischer, Dakota Dunes, SD
- Don Fletcher, Fort Garry Rotarian, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
The mission began on February 27, 2011 and lasted eight days. Equipment brought with included 6,000 pairs of glasses, sunglasses and readers; ophthalmic examination equipment and $20,000 in ophthalmic pharmaceuticals donated by Allergan. A little fewer than 1,000 patients were seen in three days of clinic and around 1,500 pairs of glasses were dispensed. These patients were preselected based on need by Dr. P. and volunteers in Port Antonio, Jamaica.
In addition, 129 glaucoma patients were seen. Forty one new cases of glaucoma were diagnosed, treatment initiated, and referred to the Jamaican public health system for follow up. Sixty four severe cataracts patients were seen with 26 referred for surgery. Several sun related diseases such as pterygiums were seen. There were also many with diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, keratoconus and other miscellaneous eye diseases.