Russell and Eileen's Church Missions: GLASSES FOR CHILDREN

I (Eileen) really enjoyed the last two weeks of my mission. Perhaps it is because the projects involved children and hospitals, both of which I have spent the last 35 years working with. Last week we went to several hospitals looking at neonatal care. This week we went to vision screening for children and also were involved with cataract operations. I have made the vision projects two different blog postings because they are lengthy.

Our humanitarian efforts with our church has partnered with a group of doctors from Gadjah Mada University in Jogjakarta. The director of the group is Professor Dr. Suhardjo. We have two projects going with them. First, our church has donated equipment so that they can operate on patients doing cataract and other types of eye surgery. In return the doctors have provided clinics wherein they have free cataract operations for the poor. We have also sponsored some of their doctors to come to the United States for training at the Moran Eye Institute and to the University in Iowa. After they get trained, the training then gets passed on to the many medical residents below them, which improves the eye care here in Indonesia. Second, the doctors provide free eye screenings for poor school children and then our church pays for eyeglasses.

Last Friday we attended on of the eyeglass screenings. Of 2,419 children in this location near Jogja, 294 were referred by their teachers as potentially needing glasses. Past experience tells us that between 60%-75% of those screened will need glasses. During the time we were there, one 11 year old had already been found to have glaucoma. It was impressive to see how organized the group was. There were 5 ophthalmology residents, Dr. Suhardjo (the ophthalmology attending) and a number of medical students all eager to help. While the students were waiting, Eileen taught the students some songs in English. The children were a little shy at first, but one of the medical students named Hanna helped me get the students enthusiastic about participating. It was fun working with the children. It was also great knowing that the children would be getting the help they needed with their vision. Normally the glasses would cost $10-$15, but because we are buying in bulk the glasses only cost $5-$6. The children will all come back in a week to receive their glasses. What a difference a the gift of vision will make to children that have not been able to see.

Some pictures taken by Waris, medical student.