Vision Screening Project

Monday we drove the Leonard's to Sarajevo to catch their plane back to Frankfurt.  Tuesday we went the other direction to Croatia to pick up the Ferguson's at the Zagreb Airport.  Wednesday we had meetings in Tuzla with the: 

Director of the Primary Care Out Patient Center
Head of Primary Care Out Patient Center for Preschool children
Minister of the Cantonal Ministry of Education
Director of Ophthalmology Department of the University Klinical Center and one of his doctors that specializes in children.

In these meetings we discussed a vision screening project which we have planned for the children in the city of Tuzla. 

Through screening both preschool and school age children we hope to identify and refer children with vision problems to eye care professionals.   Through early screening both amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) can be identified and corrected.  If these challenges are not identified and corrected, children can lose their sight.  This really hits home for us as one of our grandchildren has amblyopia and we are thankful that the problem was caught in time.  All preschool and school age children will be screened either at the Out Patient Center or at their school.  Statistics show that at least 5% of all children screened will have a vision problem. 

We still need to meet with the Red Cross and the director of the Institute for Public Health. That will all be happening on Monday. 

It has been wonderful to have the Ferguson's with us.  Gary and Ike have worked together in the Welfare Department of the Church for more than 30 years.  We have enjoyed having another adult member couple to talk and to do things with.  We do not have much contact with the other senior couples in our mission, so we relish the opportunity to have visitors to work with. 

We are so thankful for the opportunity to be in Tuzla and be a part of this pilot project.  If this project goes well, it may be used throughout Bosnia and other parts of the world.  We feel that we have been led to meet specific people to help make this project happen. 

At the UKC Vision Clinic

Ike talking with Doctors

 

Equipment that is over 40 years old

 

Gary, Susan, Gloria, and Ike

 

Never posted a picture of our new elders who came earlier this month.  But here they are . . .

 

 Compton and Quinn

 

 

This week our grandson, Thomas had his 1st birthday.  Can't believe this last year has gone so fast.  We hope to be able to celebrate #2 with him. 

 

 

 

We are thankful for the opportunity we have to be involved in this humanitarian work.

 

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.  Mosiah 2:17.