VOSH-FLORIDA MISSION REPORT (TENNESSEE STYLE): DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
by: Rev. Chris Berwanger, Mission Leader
Dateline: Azua/Estabania/Las Charcas, June 12th-19th 2004

Participants:

Westminsterites:
Judy Barnette Rev. Chris Berwanger Amy Dupper Caitlin Eaddy Virginia Eaddy Andrew Hahn Donna Hoadley Steve Hoadley Ellen Mahurin Rob Mahurin Sue McSween Megan Milam William Milam Elizabeth Reynolds Bonnie Rogers

The Others:
Joe Crosby (Head honcho) Dr. Ahmad Fahmy Mona Fahmy (2nd year student) Tarak Fahmy Edmund Short Tony Spencer (3rd year student)

The Dominicans:
Simon Bolivar President of Lions Club of Azua Dr. Rafael Cuello - Board member of Lions Club of Azua Nelio Carrasco - Acting director of mission trip Nine host families Numerous translators who were children of host families

Background:

This was the second time Westminster Presbyterian Church has gone on a VOSH program to the Dominican Republic. Last year, we partnered with SVOSH at South College in Memphis to do a week of eye clinics. Being familiar with the host families and those in charge of the Lions Club in Azua, we felt it would be beneficial to continue this relationship. Westminster Church decided to organize the VOSH trip, becoming a branch of VOSH-Florida, under the auspices of John Gehrig. Westminster provided the helping hands and John provided optometrists and a leader for the trip along with eyeglasses. This alliance was first formed in 2002 when Westminster partnered with Winter Park Presbyterian Church to go to Nicaragua, under the auspices of VOSH-Florida and John Gehrig.

Since there are no optometrists and few opthamologists in the Dominican Republic, eye care is very needed. Our goal was to visit small villages close to Azua to serve some of the poorer people of that area with a primary eye clinic of exam, glasses, and medicine. Another goal was to teach our translators and Dominican partners the various aspects of the clinic, with hopes that in years to come they could organize clinics of their own with the help of American optometrists and eyeglasses. Both of these goals were met during the trip.

Impact:
Overall, 770 people were served in the Dominican Republic. But that's just half the story. We continued to strengthen our relationship with Lion's Club in Azua. Returning for this second year, we established new connections and reaffirmed old ones. Many of the young people who were out of school became our translators and were also taught how to run most of the areas. They ran the registration table, handled crowd control, conducted visual acuities, and some dispensed glasses. We felt that in years to come with a little more training, this Lion's Club could conceivably run their own clinic. The challenge that the Dominican Republic faces is that there seems to be no optometrist school and very few optometrists. Because there are so few, they can charge more and serve only the wealthier in that country. Therefore, these clinics are desperately needed in this country but the feasibility of a self-sustaining clinic is not likely due to the lack of optometry professionals. The surplus glasses were left with the Lion's Club so that they might help more people in the future or donate them to an optometrist. We did this also last year. The Club also charged a nominal fee for the clinic for those who could afford it and raised some funds for future use and service. Those who needed surgeries were separated out and given to the Lion's Club president who promised to follow through trying to provide these people with the care they needed. The Lion's Club also received funds from Westminster to continue in their service to their country. Westminster is contemplating another trip to this region. Since there is a strong relationship established with host families and they are familiar with our needs, the logistics are very easy to arrange. We would stress the importance of visiting other areas to help those people who have not yet received care. We have greatly enjoyed this ministry opportunity since it allows us one on one contact with people, partnering with those in the country, and a tangible result of helping those who would not have access to eye care. We also greatly appreciate the coordination by VOSH-Florida and John Gehrig. Without them this would not have been possible. We hope they will also welcome another year of us Westminsterites as we look to 2005 and welcome optometrists to join us.

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