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“Sights on Health is an organization dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality medical and surgical care to individuals whose geographic location and social circumstances limit their access to healthcare. During our week-long mission, the medical team I volunteered with cared for nearly 1,000 patients of all ages in remote villages surrounding Riobamba, providing essential medical evaluations and treatments in areas with limited resources. This experience was profoundly rewarding and deeply humbling. Witnessing firsthand the resilience of the communities we served, as well as their gratitude and hope, reaffirmed the core reasons I became a nurse – to provide compassionate care and advocate for those who face barriers to health. It reminded me how meaningful nursing is beyond the walls of a hospital and how critical outreach and global health initiatives are to bridging healthcare disparities.”
“My sister has worked with them for many years, and I’ve had the chance to see firsthand the dedication and impact this organization has in underserved communities in Peru. It’s truly inspiring to see how they provide real, sustainable support, focusing on the specific needs of each community while operating with integrity and transparency. Every time she returns from a trip, she shares heartfelt stories of hope and positive change that are only possible due to the relentless effort of this team. I truly admire their mission and commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most. I highly recommend supporting their work in any way possible!”
“This may have been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I went this year, 2024, to Peru where we attended to patients from the surrounding area in Cusco. Our team performed 75 cataract surgeries. It was such an emotionally and spiritually uplifting experience for me to provide sight giving service to this community. To have people come in, essentially blind, and to see them leave with functional vision was beyond amazing. I am very grateful to be able to work with Sights on Health, Inc. I can genuinely say this experience has changed my life.”
“SOH operated on a 30 yr old man with 2 very young children. He was deaf and became blind due to a congenital illness. Once he was operated on, he could see from both eyes and was now able to once again provide for his family and be a father for his children… what a story.”
“I have been a long-time supporter of Sights on Health, Inc. and recently volunteered for a surgical mission to Peru. I was honored to work alongside this amazing, dedicated and compassionate team of doctors, nurses, Board members, translators and other volunteers lead by Dr. Debra Messina, to improve and restore eyesight to 50 patients with great need. The people that this team has helped were so gracious and appreciative! It was truly a humbling experience. I was able to see firsthand how the donations my family has been giving over the years are so needed and used to improve the lives of others. It has been a life changing experience and a privilege to be a part of this impressive, well organized not for profit! I highly recommend Sights on Health! “
“ I just want to say that this organization changed my career path! Outstanding team of medical professionals and volunteers travel to Peru to help those that are ignored and neglected by their own government and medical system.Sights on health helps people see again! How unbelievable is that and it is all done through volunteer work and love. I became and interpreter and translator because of my volunteer opportunity in 2017! Changed my life and this organization changes peoples’ lives giving them back their basic right to be able to see again!
“I went on one of the first missions with Sights on Health, and witnessed first hand the selfless work they do to provide medical care and eye care to those in need. I’ve been following their journey ever since, and year-to-year they continue expand, spreading good will, health education and health care to people who need it the most.” – Paula
“I have volunteer and raised funds for this organization for many years. I have a long history of volunteerism and I have never seen such a well run organization. I can attest to the fact that the money raised is almost completely used for patient care and support. There are no paid employees, no office rental, no spending on fluff or bells and whistles. We work with the poorest of the poor, under served indigenous people in North and South America. There is complete transparency from the board who also work the missions, all of us are made to feel we are a necessary part of the work.”
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie
“To me, Sights on Health, Inc. perfectly embodies the message of this quote. I am thankful to this non-profit organization for providing me with opportunities to be a member of team that partners with in-country staff and works as one cohesive unit with our heads, hearts, and hands in harmony. As a medical student, I have aimed to seek out positive experiences with mentors who demonstrate humility, respect for diversity, and cultural competency while providing patient-centered care. I have found an abundance of such mentors through my most recent cataract surgical mission in 2019 with this non-profit organization to Riobamba, Ecuador, as well as my experiences in Sacred Valley, Perú in 2017 when I co-led the medical and surgical mission. The important work being done by Sights on Health, Inc., including community empowerment through increasing healthcare access and performing sight-restoring surgeries, has been instrumental to my evolution into a physician. I look forward to the great work that will continue in the coming future and hope to contribute as I advance in my training. Thank you!”
“An amazing experience…. a roller coaster of feelings: happiness to know you are helping, sadness or frustration when you sometimes can’t, smiles and coloring books moments, round faced babies with toothless smiles that fill your heart, possibility of diagnose a condition or give a word of hope to parents looking for Answers. A lifetime of experiences in only 5 days!!”
“Una experiencia increíble… una montaña rusa de emociones: alegria de poder ayudar, tristeza y frustración cuando a veces no se puede, risas y libros para colorear, bebés adorables de caritas redondas y risas sin dientes, diagnósticos claros que dan esperanza o por lo menos disipan dudas y resquemores. Toda una vida vivida a través de los pacientes en solo 5 días. Un gran equipo… una gran NGO! Gracias Sights on Health por hacerme parte de esta experiencia…”
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All of them have been life changing both for the patients and for myself. But I was not ready for what I witnessed in the city of Maras. The need and the ocular issues we saw were unlike anything I’ve seen here in the US or in other cities in Peru.
There were many cases of preventable blindness, some neglect, and most unfortunate a lot of trauma. But coupled with that came hope, gratitude, patience, and resilience in the part of the people.
We set up our traveling eye clinic in the Maras health post. The health post has pharmacy and the only eye drops they have are steroid eye drops! We were needed and so the people came.
This elderly lady presented with mild cataracts in both eyes that have started to impact her vision. Her chief complaint was that she was having a hard time seeing which of her family members was walking on the road up to her home. Luckily we had glasses in her prescription and we also had reading glasses for her. She was thrilled. We provided her with detailed information, in Quechua, on where to seek additional help as her vision changes. And she was also educated on the importance of annual eye exams and wearing sunglasses with UV-protection when working out in the fields.
I asked if I could take a picture with her, she said yes and she wanted to see how the photo came out and wanted to approve the final product since she was now able to see herself with her new glasses
Get in touch with us to learn more about our programs, services, or how you can support our mission to provide quality healthcare to underserved communities. Email, click here!