A CLEARER VISION FOR HAITI

by Dan Seligman

It's 2015 and my 3rd medical mission to Haiti with Marissa. For this year, I have been preparing for my role as “the eye doc". Nice role for a podiatrist of 35 years! Why was I taking on this role? Simple... not too many people have serious foot problems and I had, by osmosis, learned the eye craft from my wife's father. Armed with the basics of "is it clearer this way or that way" I took on this task in 2013. That year showed us that there was a tremendous need for glasses amongst the people of Haiti.  We examined and dispensed all of our 300 pairs of reading glasses that year.

I managed through our collected donations, to get for 2015 a portable field vision eye testing setup and a Lensometer to measure the prescriptions of acquired glasses. To prepare myself, I asked an Optometric friend to give me a crash course in examining and evaluating basic vision issues. We also acquired a very large collection of reading glasses from Blessings International, prescription glasses, sun glasses and eye medications.  Armed with all this, we were ready to fill a critical void: giving clearer vision for our patients. We had a bonus in having Henry Marks, a college student and member of POE assist me in this mission.  Regrettably, our portable testing equipment was too difficult to transport to Haiti this year, but we hope to donate them to the Optometry Dept of Hopital St Croix in a future trip.

So,,,how did we do?  With the help of Henry, we were able to exam and dispense over 600 pairs of reading, 70 plus sunglasses and some prescription glasses to Haitians from about 10 years old to a farmer over 85 years old. The medical group saw over 1,200 people and about half the patients saw us too.  Why were we so much in demand?  Many people, especially the women, perform household tasks that requires close-up work.  In their environment, dusty, dim indoor lighting and very bright sunlight, eyes begin to wear and strain early with simple tasks such as threading sewing needles, viewing labels, and very importantly, Bible reading.

Each day we set up our "Eye Corner" amongst the doctors and triage staff. The medical staff made a referral to Henry and me to assess their vision needs. We saw many older people with developing cataracts, young kids with eye injuries, and teens and mothers who were eager to read clearer. To the best of our abilities we addressed the needs of those people, including recommendations for follow up in a clinical setting within the local hospital. Credit should be given to my translator, Jean-Marie, a young Haitian who was very skilled in explaining, defining and instructing the patients.

FSIL: I was also given an opportunity to lecture at the Nursing School affiliated with Hopital St. Croix, in my profession of Podiatry and Orthopedics. I was very grateful that by our final field clinic day, Henry had learned (with Jean-Marie) how to exam and assess patients, and dispense glasses. Also, through arrangements of Dr. Linda and Nick, I was asked to examine a dozen teachers affiliated with the Diocese School. They are dedicated young teachers who were very much in touch with the work of the medical and church mission group.

So... what was my take on all this work?  Several interesting observations came out.

1. People are much more eager to participate in their health care compared to several years ago after the earthquake.

2. People know better what they need...probably because they have a greater awareness of their surroundings since the shock of the earthquake is behind them.

3. People, especially teenage girls, who needed glasses for reading, school or homework, actually asked for glasses in specific styles, color and shape....vanity despite their poverty!  As the adage goes, If you look good, you feel good. Happy to help them!!

4. People want to improve their circumstances and if seeing clearer improves that, then there will be a brighter future for them.

Finally, I thank the members of the parish for having invited my wife Marissa (the pharmacist) and me (the foot/eye doctor) to participate in the workings of the POE in its endeavors to help the less fortunate. There is the old tenet in the Torah that states that we all should strive to leave this earth several notches better than we found it.  Thanks to all.

Dan and Marissa are members of Temple Shir Tikveh of Winchester; this was their third mission.