This day serves as a reminder of the need for regular eye examinations to screen for cataracts, glaucoma, and other chronic eye conditions to prevent blindness or sight impairment.  Sights on Health’s volunteers and supporters are part of the global effort to eliminate preventable blindness.

Drs. Robin Cunningham and George Coritsidis, worked with Stony Brook medical students Michael Subrize, Amy Fuller, and Bennett Hong on a research study involving the use of portable ultrasound in aiding mission physicians in making accurate diagnoses.  Their poster: Portable Ultrasonography Enhances Diagnostic Capability in the Peruvian Andes was presented in June 2014 at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference in Washington, D.C. The annual Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference facilitates the sharing of knowledge to address global health challenges. It is dedicated to creating equity and reducing health disparities worldwide. The abstract was also published in the Annals of Global Health Journal. Portable ultrasonography enhances diagnostic capability in the Peruvian Andes. Annals of Global Health, Vol. 80 Iss. 2, March-April, 2014a* For those interested in reviewing their poster click here.

Congratulations to our medical students and physicians for their hard work and dedication.

 Source: airlinkflight.org

The World Health Organization estimates 39 million people are blind and 246 million have severe visual impairment: 90% of those affected live in developing countries. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in middle and low-income countries, but 80% of all visual impairment can be avoided or cured. This cure can come in the form of cataract surgery or by simply administering a pair of glasses.

Unfortunately, unequal access to eye care exists in Peru. Lima, the capitol city has approximately 25% of Peru’s population and yet 75% of Peruvian ophthalmologists work in Lima.  When A Promise to Peru first implemented their program in 2010, physicians became aware of this problem when they discovered that a large number of mature cataract cases that existed in the remote Andes mountain villages. Their discovery inspired A Promise to Peru’s annual surgical campaign, in which they bring a portable, full-service eye and medical clinic and a portable operating room to rural Andean populations surrounding Urubamba.

Over the course of their two-week mission in June and July of 2014, they diagnosed and treated cataracts and other eye diseases as well as providing general healthcare to the communities: critical care, pediatrics, internal medicine, emergency medicine, gynecology and nephrology. In addition, they partnered with local Peruvian physicians, the Peruvian American Medical Society, and a local NGO, Fundación Niños del Arco Iris, to assist with identifying and transporting patients from remote towns to the main medical site in Urubamba, Peru.

In addition to providing surgical and medical aid, this program has an educational component. Graduate students involved in the program were able to initiate studies on pediatric malnutrition in rural Peru, and on the benefits of portable ultrasonography in the field. Likewise, medical students also held workshops for patients on topics such as dental hygiene, exercises to prevent lower back pain, and hand washing. Physicians from A Promise to Peru were also invited to participate in the 3rd International Health Symposium in the Sacred Valley, Peru at the Urubamba Hospital on July 3, 2014. Various physicians from A Promise to Peru gave lectures, which were well attended.

Thanks to the generosity of JetBlue, AIRLINK was able to help A Promise to Peru send 45 team members – doctors, nurses, technicians, medical students, and other medical personnel – to work on the 2014 mission in Urubamba.

Results

• 1,650 patients were evaluated
• 1,000 pairs of prescription glasses and sunglasses were dispensed
• 50 ultrasound exams performed
• 85 eye surgeries performed
• 2 studies on health in rural Peru were initiated

About A Promise to Peru
A Promise to Peru, Inc. provides an annual cataract surgical and medical mission to the remote villages of the Sacred Valley of Peru and other regions in need. Physicians and other health professionals from across the U.S. along with medical, optometry, pharmacology and public health students and undergraduate students volunteer their time towards this effort.

Consul General Of Peru and Maria Julia Colmenares

A Promise to Peru’s Director of Clinic Operations, Julia Colmenares received an Award of Appreciation from the Peru Agribusiness Association (PAA) September 18, 2014. Peruvian Ambassador to the United Nations, Maria Theresa de Hart officiated the evening ceremonies.  The PAA recognize Peruvians for their talent, professionalism and dedication.  The 2014 Cataract Surgical and Medical Mission to the Sacred Valley is a source of pride to the Peruvian American community.

Click to review the schedule.

Source: northshoreoflongisland.com

From June 28 to July 5, Drs. Jack Oats and Anzhelika Vaccaro of Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island will participate in A Promise to Peru Inc., a cataract surgical and medical mission to the Sacred Valley region of Peru.

Oats will be doing cataract surgery with Dr. Mike Sable, secretary for A Promise to Peru Inc. and Vaccaro will be working in the clinic with Dr. Debra Messina, co-founder and president of A Promise to Peru Inc.

The doctors are asking for postoperative protective surgical eyeglasses to be donated.

Founded in 2011, A Promise to Peru Inc. has delivered cataract surgery and medical care to almost 7,000 residents of remote Peruvian villages. The missions are designed to make a meaningful difference not just in the lives of the patients served, but for those volunteering as well.

The donated postoperative protective surgical eyeglasses will be distributed to people undergoing surgery as part of the mission.

The donations may be dropped off at two ophthalmic offices: North Shore Professional Center, 125 Oakland Ave., Suite 101 in Port Jefferson and 4 Technology Drive, Suite 150 in East Setauket by May 15.

This is Oats’ second medical mission trip; his first trip was to Ecuador in February 2014. This is Vaccaro’s first medical mission trip. Both doctors serve the East Setauket and Port Jefferson communities.

For questions regarding donating postoperative eyeglasses, please contact OCLI’s Port Jefferson office at 828-7100 or OCLI’s East Setauket office at 941-1400. For more information about A Promise to Peru, please visit www.apromisetoperu.com.

A non-profit organization, A Promise to Peru is delivered by physicians, nurses, allied health care professionals, medical students, optometry and public health graduate students from across the United States, all dedicated individuals who volunteer their time and expertise.

Public and private organizations that are a continuous source of support include Surgical Eye Expedition; the Peruvian American Medical Society; Foundation Niños del Arco Iris; Stony Brook School of Medicine, SUNY School of Optometry, Sonosite, LNK International Pharmaceuticals and Allergan to name a few.  Jet Blue recently donated to our effort free air travel to Peru for 20 of our volunteers, a value of more than $20,000.

A Promise to Peru’s missions are designed to make a meaningful difference not just in the lives of the patients served, but for those volunteering as well. All members of the mission gain the satisfaction of providing modern surgical and medical services to those less fortunate, but the students among the team gain invaluable knowledge and experience from the physicians they are assisting, nurturing their own capacity for empathy and compassion that will enable them to become successful leaders in the future.

What We Do

• Typically a team of 45 participants will travel to Peru for 2 weeks each year.

• All of the medical and surgical equipment, instruments, medications and supplies are transported with each of the members of the team on a commercial airline.

• Upon arrival at its destination, the team sets up a full service eye clinic and a portable operating room, generally in an empty space designated for use by the Peruvian Minister of Health.

• The team’s first week consists of performing cataract surgery, treating common diseases of the eyes, dispensing eyeglasses in addition to conducting scheduled sub-specialty medical clinics for patients with complicated medical conditions. This year’s goal is to perform at least 100 cataract surgeries.

• Portable ultrasonography assists the physicians in making accurate diagnoses and referring patients for proper follow up care.

• The team’s second week involves traveling to remote villages high in the Andes Mountains, delivering the same quality medical services as provided at the base camp. Over 700 patients are evaluated and common ailments are treated, including a variety of women’s health issues.

Our Future Goals  

-Expanded the number of cataract surgeries offered and reach out to other geographic areas to continue to provide the gift to sight.

-Continue to expand our sustainable medical mission offering diagnostic ultrasound, needed medications, and treatment of medical ailments including women’s health.

-Strive to add public health services such as providing clean water to one of the many communities that are in need.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Debra Messina, M.D.

Natalie Di Gioia, M.D.

John Shanley, M.D.

George Coritsidis, M.D.

Michael Sable, M.D.

CONTACT
A Promise to Peru, Inc.
P.O. Box 595
Northport, New York 11768
Ph: 860.490.6231
Fax: 631.262.9217