01 May, 2014
MONTE PLATA. – For the past nine years, the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) has partnered with the New England College of Optometry (NECO) from Boston, to conduct annual optometry operatives to benefit thousands of children and their families living impoverished and vulnerable communities throughout the Dominican Republic, who otherwise go without access to such preventive eye care services, and much less free of charge. “We have spent more than $1.5 million to prevent blindness and blindness-related diseases among 13,500 people,” said Ulrick Gaillard, BRA’s CEO.
NECO is a member of the VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity) association, which endeavors “to facilitate the provision and the sustainability of vision care worldwide for people who can neither afford nor obtain such care.”
From April 6-10, BRA and SVOSH-NECO organized a five-day optometry medical operative, bringing critically needed eye care services to rural community of Batey Gonzalo, Monte Plata province, where thousands of undocumented Haitians and Dominicans live in some of the nation’s most vulnerable conditions. A team of 26 doctors and optometry students and assistants provided eye care for 1,445 residents. Patients ranged from ages 1-97 year-of-age. 67 patients were found to have varying stages of cataracts and were referred to BRA’s Medical Center located at batey Cinco Casas for follow-up treatment. 106 patients were found to have glaucoma and were given appropriate eye drops, as needed, to help control their condition. Based on eye exam results, patients received prescription lenses, sunglasses and eye drops, as needed.
The Blindness Prevention intervention was conducted in partnerships with Batey Gonzalo’s Mayor’s office and the Dominican Ministry of Health, and co-sponsored by the Lions Club Arroyo Hondo Santo Domingo.
