2009 Port Antonio, Jamaica

Feb.28-March 7, 2009
Larry Morrison, O.D. led a group of eleven to Port Antonio, Jamaica in March. This was a return trip to a location where a permanent clinic is being established. This year’s team included Dr. Brad and Jolene Meier, Dr. Larry, Pam, and Leah Menning, Brad and Janet Green, Tim and Cheri Bergien, and Dr. Larry and Joyce Morrison. 

The VOSH volunteers from Minnesota and South Dakota were hosted by the local Rotary Club. This was a small group of about 14 which supplied noon meals on the work days as well as a couple of evening meals at Rotarian’s homes.

The team worked three days at the Rotary Avoidable Blindness Clinic in Port Antonio examining about 750 people, nearly all of them needing glasses. They also gave out several hundred pairs of sunglasses.  About 50 cases of glaucoma were diagnosed and started on treatments with follow-up scheduled at local health care facilities. Several bilateral cataracts were found as well as many sun related diseases such as pterygiums.

Housing for this mission was at Frenchman’s Cove which is an older ocean side resort about eight miles from the work site. It was a good spot for relaxing after work. R&R included rafting on the Rio Grande on bamboo rafts, waterfalls and time at the beach.

The next scheduled visit to Port Antonio will be in March of 2011. Contact Dr. Morrison if interested at lmorrison52@msn.com