International Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the eye ministry go?

Currently we have opportunities for volunteers in Ghana and Honduras. In both locations, we partner with locally owned and operated eye clinics that offer eye care to the poor population. We work in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and/or National Prevention of Blindness Program for the country.

When do volunteers go?

You can plan a volunteer trip for just about any time of the year. The exceptions are the holidays of Christmas and Easter and some local holidays when the clinic may be closed. We prefer to send first time volunteer surgeons with an experienced volunteer for at least the first week of the trip. We find this provides an excellent orientation and improves volunteer satisfaction as we coordinate your trip with that of another volunteer.

Who can go?

Ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic technicians, ophthalmic surgical nurses and other health care professionals are all needed. In Honduras, we can also use volunteers proficient in Spanish to accompany non-Spanish speaking volunteers. Family members are also welcome to accompany you.

What is the recommended length for a volunteer trip?

If you are traveling to Ghana, we strongly suggest that you go for a minimum of two weeks because of the distance and the expense involved for airfare. However, we do occasionally have volunteers that go to Ghana for shorter periods.

What will I do on a volunteer trip?

Your skills will be used in the clinic to help with the daily patient care depending on your area of expertise and local needs. This includes patient examinations, refractions, preparation for surgery, surgical care and patient education. We also encourage volunteers to provide training opportunities for the local doctors when appropriate. It is best to coordinate this when scheduling your trip so necessary arrangements can made ahead of time. If you are in the country over the weekend there will be options for activities such as sight seeing, shopping, relaxing and worship.

Where will I stay?

In Ghana, volunteers stay at a guesthouse near the clinic. The Eye Centre staff will provide you with transportation, laundry service and meals. The bedrooms have air conditioning. In Honduras, your accommodations will be at a local bed and breakfast that is owned and operated by a member of our partner church. Transportation to and from the clinic will be provided each day. We want you to be as comfortable, safe and as well rested as possible during your stay.

What about food and water?

All of the guesthouses, hotels and restaurants have bottled water available as well as soft drinks. These are perfectly safe to drink (without ice). There are a number of excellent restaurants in both Ghana and Honduras. However, the guesthouse staff prepares excellent meals and you should have no difficulty with the food. They are happy to adjust the menus if you have special dietary needs. We recommend that you eat only fruits and vegetables that have been cooked or peeled. You may wish to take a few of your favorite snacks along as a supplement.

How much does a trip cost?

For Ghana the standard fee of $2,500 per surgeon and $2,000 for others will cover the costs of transportation from the nearest airport to Cape Coast and back. If desired, side trips, en-route stopovers, and vacation trips can also be arranged, and the additional cost incurred would be your responsibility. The above fee also covers visa services, registration costs with the Ghanaian medical authorities (MD’s only), all in-country room and board, transportation expenses and medical evacuation insurance. For Honduras, we ask volunteers to pay the cost of their airfare plus a standard fee to cover the in-country costs as well as insurance. That fee is $550 for a one week stay and $750 for two weeks.

Are these expenses tax deductible?

Yes. A donation receipt for tax purposes will be mailed to you for any check or credit card payment that is made to our organization for trip expenses.

Do the patients pay for services that they receive at the affiliated clinics?

Patients seen at affiliated clinics are charged a modest fee for the services that they receive. Fees are adjusted for those unable to pay the full amount or unable to pay anything at all. Our goal is to establish sustainable clinics and cost recovery is an important part of this process. This involves implementing programs and policies that enable the local staff to operate the clinic with as little dependence on outside aid as possible. We want to build capacity and empower the recipients to become self sufficient. Please be assured the purpose of our clinics is to serve the poor and we do not want to turn anyone away because they are unable to pay.

I would like more information about volunteering in the eye ministry.

Please contact Faye Kragt, CEM Manager
International Aid
17011 Hickory
Spring Lake, MI 49456
(616) 935-6851
Fax (616) 846-3842
Kragtf@internationalaid.org

Other Sources for Related Information:

• For additional information on Ghana go to www.ghana.gov.gh
• For Honduras go to www.honduras.com
• For country specific information on immunization recommendations: www.cdc.gov
• Recommended Travel Guide for Ghana: Guide to Ghana by Phillip Briggs, September 1998.
• For Honduras Travel Guide: Honduras Handbook by Chris Humphrey, November 1997.