The Board of Directors of the Retina Research Foundation has approved a charitable Eye Mission in San Pedro, Belize, at its annual meeting on January 23, 2007.
The Eye Mission is organized in conjunction with a local charitable organization, the Belize Council of Visually Impaired (BCVI). U.S. trained voluntary faculty travels to San Pedro and Belize City to provided eye care for the needy population in the Lions Polyclinic or National Eye Clinic (NEC). Currently there is no eye care in San Pedro and the only 3 ophthalmologists in the entire country are located in Belize City. The native population has no health insurance. Funding for BCVI has been dras tically cut and the single previous NEC ophthalmologist left the country.
The Eye Mission provides periodic visits from U.S. faculty who volunteer to provide basic eye care in San Pedro and/or surgical care in Belize City. In addition, the mission brings needed eye medications and performs cataract surgeries and laser treatments for diabetic retinopathy. A generous supply of low vision aids have been provided by NABA.
Don't forget to check out the portfolio for the Belize Eye Mission.