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VOSH-Connecticut
founders Matthew Blondin, O.D., and his
wife Audrey Blondin, Esq., along with
other members of VOSH-Connecticut and
support staff, run an annual eye clinic
 in
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
The group
held a clinic for the 10th year at the
Centro Escolar Enmanuel Mongalo y Rubio
in January 2008.
The team
consisted of six optometrists led by Dr.
Blondin: Jerry Hardison,
O.D.,
Brian Lynch, O.D., Abby
Quinn, O.D., David Kendrick, O.D., and
Michael Gordon, O.D.
More than a
dozen students were also part of the
mission.
Kenzo Otsuji,
Jenny Nguyen, David Leong,
Jennifer Park, Dale Choi, Jessica Lee,
Nancy Luu, and Josie Yang were from the
University of California School
of Optometry at
Berkeley. Nick Blondin was
in his fourth year at the
University of Connecticut Medical
School, and Kirsten van Althena, Martine
van Angelen, Elien Janssen, and Astrid
Snijder were third-year optometry
students from
the Netherlands.
In addition
to the doctors and students, volunteers
included: Assistant Clinic Director
Joyce Krinitsky, opticians Dottie Byus
and Mareshah Lynch, Olivia Quinn,
Tommy Thompson, Susie
Ruiz, Rebecca Gordon, Justine Hope and
Nick Gordon.
As in past
years, approximately 50 local residents
assisted with the clinic duties. Many of
these local residents have been
volunteering at the clinic for each of
the 10 years of service to the area.
The location
of the clinic is important because
residents in the area of
San Juan del Sur suffer
extreme poverty and need.
Water and
electricity are scarce, and inflation
has caused some families to struggle
supporting themselves.
Wages
average around $5 a day. The
average per capita income
in Nicaragua is about $700, making it
the second poorest country in the
Western Hemisphere.
To help
patients with access to the clinic, VOSH-Connecticut
hired a bus to bring people in from the
local and surrounding areas during the
four days of the mission.
The group
set up a clinic with five examination
rooms, a pre-testing room, dispensary
and lunchroom.
Over the
four-day period, the mission helped a
total of 2,428 patients. The clinic
averaged between 550 and 650 patients a
day.
"Overall,
this year's mission went very smoothly,
due in large part to the fact that so
many mission members have worked so
often and so well together in the past
and continue to recognize service above
self," said Dr. Blondin. "Mission
members came away with a great deal of
self-satisfaction knowing that many in
need were helped by their generous and
unselfish efforts, and VOSH-Connecticut
continues to be grateful to all of
those, both here and in Nicaragua, who
work together as a team to provide eye
care to so many who otherwise would have
none."
Common
pathologies found on the mission
included cataracts, pterygia,
glaucoma, corneal
foreign bodies,
toxoplasmosis,
conjunctivitis, retinal disease,
hypertension and some
cancers.
 Though
the group is glad they diagnosed the
conditions, they are concerned about
follow-up treatment for patients in the
area.
Lists of
names were kept of needed patient
cataract surgeries; other medical
conditions such as goiters, heart
problems and possible carcinomas remain
untreated with little or no further
treatment options, according to Dr.
Blondin.
The clinic
has a security team during the mission,
but other places in Nicaragua are not as
safe.
During a
break from mission activities, Dr.
Blondin and his son Nick were surrounded
by Nicaraguan army personnel pointing
AK-47 rifles at them for allegedly
trespassing in an off-limits beach area.
"Only
because of the help received by our now-
bilingual foster child Orlando Sevilla,
who was with them, was an explanation
satisfactorily received, allowing them
to escape unharmed," said Audrey
Blondin, who is the clinic director.
The mission
also ran into problems with supplies for
the clinic.
"Because of
the current global situation, it is no
longer possible to transport any mission
supplies with us," said Dr. Blondin.
"This mission is only able to continue
because of the generosity and support of
Chris Berry and Pelican Eyes, who
allowed us space on their shipment
container."
VOSH-Connecticut
purchased more than 3,000 pairs of
glasses from the Virginia Lions Club,
along with 3,000 pairs of sunglasses and
1,000 pairs of readers.
Alcon Laboratories, Inc.,
Allergan Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Bradley
Rosenberg donated pharmaceutical drugs
for use during the mission.
At the
conclusion of the 2008 mission, the
group was presented with an official
citation signed by
Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell
(R), and San Juan del Sur Mayor Eduardo
Holmann honored the VOSH-Connecticut
members along with the local doctor,
Rosa Elena Bello, for their service to
area residents.
The group is
planning its 11th VOSH mission in San
Juan del Sur from Jan. 10-17, 2009.
For more
information, or to volunteer with a
local group, visit
www.vosh.org.
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