October 6, 2008
 

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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