Limbé, Haiti: Visual care available for over 9 years!

Thanks to the valuable partnership with the Centre d’Éducation et de Développement intégré – Village de l’Espoir (CEDI-VE), IRIS Mundial established in 2013 a Program of Prevention and Fight against Blindness (PPFB) within their premises in Limbé, Haiti. For almost a decade, the center’s employees have been reaching out to people in need to provide them with access to primary, secondary and tertiary[1] visual care, otherwise unavailable in the region. Residents are also able to obtain medication, sunglasses, and reading and prescription glasses at a lower cost if needed.

 

Through the years, IRIS Mundial has collaborated with CEDI-VE to subsidize part of the care, equip the center with optometric instruments and high quality ophthalmic equipment, in addition to providing glasses as well as training in optics, optometry and management. The program has gained sustainability through the years and finally became autonomous towards the end of 2017. IRIS Mundial has subsequently remained available to offer occasional and ad hoc assistance to the partner, as needed.

[1] Screenings, in-depth examinations, surgeries

However, the onset of a socio-political crisis in the country in 2019, which is still present today, and the arrival of the pandemic and health restrictions the following year are factors that have considerably weakened the structure of the CEDI-VE and the program. Indeed, the offer of services was reduced to a minimum, the organization of mobile clinics in remote areas and in schools had to be put on hold for a long period. In addition, the erection of roadblocks due to instability and the presence of armed groups greatly complicated the movement of both staff and patients. Seeing how the current reality has affected the partner’s visual care offer, and thanks to a grant from the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie of Quebec (MRIF), IRIS Mundial decided in 2021 to support an additional three-year phase for the Limbé PPFB.

 

During this new phase, IRIS Mundial will subsidize some logistical elements necessary for the proper functioning of the center’s activities, as well as the creation of a social fund to finance the care of those unable to pay the fees, even if they are at a lower cost. In addition, part of the funds allocated to the partner will be used to strengthen their organizational and management capacities, taking into account the new reality on the ground and the resulting challenges. For example, new technological equipment was sent to them by boat from Quebec, in order to allow the organization of distance training thanks to our Quebec professional volunteers. In Haiti, these training sessions can be both fixed and theoretical in a conference room and mobile and practical in the visual clinic to perfect the use of certain instruments. In addition, the support will also allow us to optimize the clinic by making it electrically autonomous through the purchase of solar panels and by building a permanent roof of better quality.

The team members in Haiti are well motivated to implement the activities. Indeed, 4 months after the beginning of the phase, a second nurse has been hired to revitalize the service offered and an agreement has been reached between the partner and an Haitian consultant to provide professional coaching in order to optimize the organizational management of the CEDI-VE. The situation has not yet allowed for the resumption of mobile clinics, but radio spots to raise awareness about visual hygiene are once again being broadcast, since last October. The construction of the new permanent roof is already finished and the partner has just received the material from IRIS Mundial sent by boat. This shipment includes optometric instruments, sunglasses and reading glasses, several additional accessories (cases, cleaners, etc.), as well as all the computer and electronic equipment needed to set up the videoconference structure. The new phase is well underway and remains encouraging for the years to come.

Thank you to all those who contribute in one way or another to support this project which is close to our hearts and who ensure its success year after year!