Mobile Eye Clinics Save Vision; Your Help Needed!

Dominique Pierre is 65 years old. He came to an ICC mobile eye clinic for diagnosis and treatment. ICC medical workers treated him with donated antibiotic drops, potentially saving his eyesight, and allowing Mr. Pierre to return to his family, which includes six children.

In 2007, International Child Care opened Haiti’s premier eye clinic in a new compound across the street from Grace Children’s Hospital. The state-of-the-art facility was touted as being able to offer cataract surgery and other treatment for those suffering infection and at risk for blindness. ICC partnered with the Christian Blind Mission to open the eye clinic, and has a staff trained to offer treatment and surgery, which helps more than 11,000 patients annually.

Although the earthquake damaged the buildings at Grace Children’s Hospital, the eye clinic facility is still usable. The eye clinic and its sterile operating rooms were turned into an emergency clinic staffed by visiting medical teams shortly after the earthquake, and ICC’s eye care staffed turned their attention to another direction.

As the camps for displaced residents continue to grow, the spread of disease and infection is increasing. Untreated eye infections can cause permanent damage, so ICC has responded by creating mobile clinics that visit the new camps and seek out patients with untreated eye infections. They are helping around 80 patients a day who have serious but treatable problems such as Mr. Pierre’s infection. Many suffered eye injuries in the earthquake, which left untreated could result in cataracts.

The outpouring of support after the earthquake has enable ICC’s eye clinic staff to reach out the people of Haiti in a new way, but we need your support to continue. We are currently accepting donations of new, not-expired eye medication, usable eye glasses, and trained eye care teams, as well as financial support to transport or purchase needed supplies. Please contact us if you can offer help.