Living Our Mission Eye Care Around the World

Living Our Mission: Eye Care Around the World Loyola University, Dept. of Ophthalmology Lions International World Sight Day, Bosnia 2004 Phil Albano, R. Tracy Williams, O. D. Lions Club International Foundation Division Manager Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation Executive Director Loyola University, Dept. of Ophthalmology, Low Vision Services, Clinical Associate Professor

World Sight Day Bosnia – Herzegovina October 2004 n 1. 2. 3. About Lions … Nearly 1. 4 million Lions members in 193 countries For 85 years, whenever that there is a need at home or around the world, Lions members are there to help. Lions Club International Foundation since 197273 has granted more than US$347 million for humanitarian service projects.

World Sight Day Bosnia – Herzegovina October 2004 n 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Funding priorities … Preserving Sight 1. 2. Children’s Eye Photoscreening Program Low Vision Projects 1. Diabetes Prevention and Treatment 1. Building homes for the blind and disabled with Habitat for Humanity 1. Expansion of Lions Quest Promoting Health Combating Disability Serving Youth Emergency Grants … in the wake of natural disasters. 47 million treatments for “River Blindness”, 9 million persons per year. 3. 4 million cataract surgeries on poorest of poor. 409 hospitals built 13, 886 eye doctors and nurses trained. Eye health delivery systems in 85 countries.

World Sight Day Bosnia – Herzegovina October 2004 n 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Brief Recent History … Winter Olympics Sarajevo 1984 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) Six Republics: Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. “Tight control” until Marshall Tito’s death in 1980 and fall of the Soviet Union in 1989. Bosnia army mainly composed of Bosnian Serbs with Russian support. Serbs – Eastern Orthodox, Croats – Roman Catholic, Bosnians – Muslims 1991 Census of Bosnia; 43% Muslim, 31% Serbian, and 17% Croation. Serbs want to expand Republic of Serbia. April ‘ 91 Bosnia-Herzegovina declares independence April ‘ 92 Wars breaks out – 200, 000 die, 2 million displaced. Dayton Peace Accord Nov. 21, 1995. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio NATO troops still occupy territories today. Many orphans as a result of the war Eye care is one of many needs.

World Sight Day Bosnia – Herzegovina October 2004 n 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. A Project of Lions International Lions in Bosnia and Herzegovina hold eye care screenings for children in Sarajevo, Mostar, Banjluke, and Tuzla on October 13 – 14, 2004. Dr. R. Tracy Williams, (Wheaton Lion and Loyola faculty member) was one of three doctors from the U. S. A. invited to join doctors from Bosnia and Herzegovina to screen children in schools and orphanages. 548 children were screened by doctors. Amblyopia, Strabismus and uncorrected hyperopia often with anisometropia was commonly found. Few children had prescriptive glasses who required them. Pediatric Ophthalmology is an established specialty in Bosnia. Shortage of vitreal-retinal specialists and subsequent care. Minimal help for visually impaired, need for low vision rehabilitation.

Lions International announced US $130, 000 initiative for the prevention of worldwide blindness in Bosnia and Herzegovina. n World Sight Day 2005, Hyderabad, India. n Thank You!