A donation of $114,000 for IRIS Mundial!

February was IRIS Mundial Month in the 170 IRIS stores across Canada. For each pair of glasses sold during February, a donation of $10 was made to IRIS Mundial, thereby, contributing to a grand total of $114,000. Also participating in the fundraising for IRIS Mundial: The “Lunetterie Duncan” from Gatineau, and the “Centre Vision Bégin” from St-Georges.

We would like to extend our most heartfelt thanks to all the IRIS store associates
throughout Canada who have contributed in promoting IRIS Mundial.

Dr. Brigitte Marchand, Optometrist

Congratulation to Dr. Brigitte Marchand, Optometrist

To highlight his limitless generosity and commitment to IRIS Mundial projects, the Jean-Pierre Tchang Award was created in 2009 to reward the volunteer that stands out in any given year. In 2011, at a yearly gathering of IRIS Mundial volunteers in Montreal, the Jean-Pierre Tchang Award was presented to Dr. Brigitte Marchand, Optometrist. On behalf of IRIS Mundial and the less fortunate, we would like to say “Thank you Brigitte!”

It is with great sadness that we learned of the premature death of Brigitte on September 24, 2011. We dedicate this award in her honour.

IRIS Mundial: The experience of better vision…for the people of Haiti.

IRIS Mundial has concentrated the better part of its efforts throughout the last year towards implementing a program to prevent and fight blindness in the remote region of FODES-5. This region, hours from the capital, is isolated and difficult to access, the only way being over mountainous terrain. The IRIS Mundial volunteers visit regularly in order to fine tune the training of the staff on site as well as to ensure that the program is running smoothly. Upon our return from Haiti, more specifically Labrousse, we have found that this program is appreciated by the Haitians. Prior to this program, entirely funded by IRIS Mundial, Ophthalmologic services were virtually non existent in this region.

Making eyecare accessible to all
This program has made impressive headway in the last few months. The team members of the Program for the Prevention and Fight Against Blindness in the intervention area of FODES-5, consists of two nurses and an assistant. They travel around in a four wheeler and by motorcycle to raise awareness as well as to screen both adults and children in schools.

Up to now, this program has screened over 2600 people; 1800 of which are students and teachers from FODES-5’s 12 associated schools. Although few students showed symptoms of eye problems, the program members noticed the dire state of the school’s teaching facilities such as the chalk boards and the lighting in the classrooms – all possible contributing factors to visual problems among children. Following simple recommendations made to management, small changes will soon be put in place in order to improve the learning conditions of these children – the future of their country.

Awareness Campaign
Awareness campaign workshops are given regularly in the area in order to reach the adult segment targeted by the program, permitting them to make appointments for much needed screening tests. Awareness campaign workshops are important as they offer information that could serve as a catalyst for behavioural changes, most notably as far as prevention is concerned (e.g. sun protection or safety eyewear) and they explain risks associated with certain eye diseases. Emphasis on the subject of glaucoma is also highlighted, that could potentially affect 10% of the population. The ultimate goal of this program is to improve the quality of life and work for Haitians through the experience of better vision.

Autonomy through Ophthalmologic care
Thanks to this program, patients with visual problems are referred to the newly renovated and fully equipped Centre de santé Notre-Dame-de-Lourde Ophthalmology Clinic. Following the Ophthalmologic exam, patients are able to purchase prescription or safety glasses, sunglasses, and eye drops at a nominal cost. Eye surgery offered through the program has restored the eyesight of cataract sufferers and has preserved it for those dealing with glaucoma.

A program of this magnitude could only be possible because of FODES-5, the organization heading the project. FODES-5 is also developing numerous projects in collaboration with different Quebec organizations in various sectors such as Agriculture (UPA-di), Education (Fondation Paul Guérin-Lajoie), Health (Collaboration Santé Internationale), and Energy (Hydro-Québec). www.fodes5.org

Dr. Brigitte Marchand, Optometrist

Congratulation to Dr. Brigitte Marchand, Optometrist

To highlight his limitless generosity and commitment to IRIS Mundial projects, the Jean-Pierre Tchang Award was created in 2009 to reward the volunteer that stands out in any given year. In 2011, at a yearly gathering of IRIS Mundial volunteers in Montreal, the Jean-Pierre Tchang Award was presented to Dr. Brigitte Marchand, Optometrist. On behalf of IRIS Mundial and the less fortunate, we would like to say “Thank you Brigitte!”

It is with great sadness that we learned of the premature death of Brigitte on September 24, 2011. We dedicate this award in her honour.

Thanks to the RBC Golf Tournament, IRIS Mundial receives a donation of $5000.

On June 14, the RBC Royal Bank Business Centres of the Laval, Laurentians, and Lanaudiere regions in Quebec, held a Golf Tournament at the "Quatre Domaines" Golf Club in Mirabel, Quebec. This tournament brought together more than 140 golfing clients. Thanks to their participation, as well as the presence of eight major sponsors and other partners such as IRIS, the Visual Group, the amount of $40,000 was donated to eight various foundations. At the end of the tournament an amount of $5000 was donated to IRIS Mundial!

On behalf of the less fortunate, we would like to thank the RBC Royal Bank as well as IRIS The Visual Group.

A $101,800 donation for IRIS Mundial!

Once again this year, March was IRIS Mundial Month, in the 170 IRIS stores across Canada. IRIS stores donated $10 to IRIS Mundial for each pair of eyeglasses sold during this special month, raising $101,800. On behalf of the most destitute, we would like to extend our warmest thanks to all the IRIS store associates, who have contributed to promoting IRIS Mundial.

Thanks to the support of IRIS, the Visual Group, the IRIS stores and the contributions of volunteers who offer their professional expertise, time, and availability. IRIS Mundial develops and finances activities to prevent blindness in developing countries. Many thanks for all your support and generosity!

The future Ophthalmology Clinic at the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Health Center in Labrousse.

Program for the Prevention and Fight Against Blindness in the intervention area of FODES-5

An ambitious project
For several years, IRIS Mundial has been working with the Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FODES-5) to implement the Program for the Prevention and Fight Against Blindness. This program is fully financed by IRIS Mundial and is now in progress even though the earthquake slowed down its course.

The goal of this program is to make the area, an extremely poor region located in the mountains and difficult to get to, independent in terms of ophthalmic services. This program is particularly ambitious because there is currently no ophthalmology department throughout the Department of Nippes. In recent months, IRIS Mundial volunteers went to Haiti to initiate the establishment of this program for a period of three years.

Awareness and screening in schools
In September, following the signature of an agreement of mutual collaboration with FODES-5, a nurse specializing in public health, was hired and trained by volunteer optometrists so that she is able to raise awareness and give vision screening tests to students in schools as well as the adult population. The program includes people involved in literacy programs. On her first day, the nurse noticed that two students had poor visual acuity. The teacher later confirmed that these were the two students who had the most difficulty in this class.

An Ophthalmology Clinic in Labrousse
Premises to house the future ophthalmology clinic have been built at the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Health Center in Labrousse. This clinic will soon be equipped with modern ophthalmological equipment and patients needing eye care will have access to services, treatments and prescription glasses. The program will also enable patients who suffer from cataracts, pterygium and glaucoma to be operated on in a hospital with adequate surgical facilities for eye surgery.

IRIS Mundial volunteers who went to Cap-Haïtien and Limonade

Continuing Education for Ophthalmologists in Cap-Haïtien and Limonade

November 2, 2010

In October 2010, a dozen of IRIS Mundial volunteers trained a group of ophthalmologists in the region of Cap-Haïtien, primarily to improve surgical techniques for cataract surgery.

Meanwhile, other volunteers worked in Limonade, an extremely poor village near Cap-Haïtien. Hundreds of patients were screened for visual problems and received medical consultations. Those in need were offered reading glasses or medication, and some were lucky enough to receive cataract surgery.

Dr. Jean-André de Groot and
IRIS Mundial patient
– Ketou, Benin

Congratulations to Dr. Jean-André De Groot

In 2009, IRIS Mundial created the Jean-Pierre Tchang Award. This award is given annually to recognize the most outstanding volunteer. To underline his commitment and generosity, the award was named after Dr. Jean-Pierre Tchang. In 2010, the award was given to Dr. Jean-André De Groot, Ophthalmologist. On behalf of IRIS Mundial and people in need we would like to thank Dr. de Groot for all his hard work!

Dr. Jean-Pierre Tchang, Optometrist, and Dr. Frantz Large, President of the SHO

Strengthening ophthalmological infrastructures in Haiti

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a terrible tragedy. Everyone at IRIS Mundial was strongly shaken by this disaster and we promptly decided to do our part by organizing a fund raiser to help the reconstruction of ophthalmological services in Haiti. The Fond IRIS Mundial pour l’aide en Haïti has raised close to $12,000.

IRIS Mundial signed a collaborative agreement with the Haitian Society of Ophthalmology (HSO) to strengthen the organization and logistics to enable them to receive the humanitarian aid that was promised. With our support, the HSO is now better structured, with staff working in well equipped premises. Unfortunately, the aid promised by the international NGO isn’t arriving as quickly as we hoped.

Dr. Thao Nguyen explaining how the SLT Laser works to Haitian ophthalmologists.

Continuing Education for Haitian ophthalmologists in Port-au-Prince

August 2, 2010

Thanks to IRIS Mundial, in July 2010, members of the Haitian Society of Ophthalmology and ophthalmology residents have enjoyed theoretical and practical training on the use of the SLT laser. The SLT laser is particularly useful for the treatment of glaucoma, an endemic disease that can affect up to 20% of the Haitian population. The presence of the IRIS Mundial volunteers in Haiti was highlighted by a press conference and a meeting with Dr. Michel Péan, Secretary of State, for the integration of disabled people.