Volunteer Health Program Ltd.

“Report is reviewed by management prior to issuance. The 990 is prepared by an independent cpa and sent to management for review and the entire governing body prior to filing.”

“The organization makes its form 990 available for public inspection as required under section 6104 of the internal revenue code by posting it on guidestar.org and other similar types of websites. In addition, the financial statements, articles of incorporation and by-laws are also available upon written request or by calling the organization direclty.”

“The volunteer health program, ltd. (vhp) is a nonprofit health care program, which focuses on primary medical and surgical eye care to under-served rural areas in central america and the dominican republic. It is an integrated program offering high quality and accessible eye care to our latin amnerican neighbors. An essential part of our effort is to work in a close partnership with those who live and work in the region we are serving. Vhp is committed to offering educational support to health care providers in areas that we serve. Our mission group provides comprehensive on site diagnosis, surgical and medical treatment of eye disease. The distribution of corrective glasses for those in need is also an essential part of the program. Physicians, nurses and trained eye screening volunteers are our most valued resources. The superior knowledge and skills of this broad-based team and their compassionate concern for each patient's welfare is the basis for the volunteer health program. We remain committed to delivering eye care to the underserved and consider it a privilege to do so. Background: honduras 1994 and 1995 the volunteer health program's first two eye care missions were in gracious, honduras. At the invitation of and in coordination with the efforts of a well-organized local nonprofit agency fedecoh, we saw over 2000 patients each visit. There was a great need at this site; however, needed follow up care for our patients was difficult. Dominican republic 1995,1996,1998,1999,2000,2001,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and planning 2020. The second project site was started in 1995 with ilac (institute of latin american concern) in santiago de los caballeros, dominican republic. We are pleased that the opthalmology program has led the way, as monthly medical providers in different medical fields now work in a first rate medical and surgical facility at ilac. For the past 48 years, ilac's health care services have been based on a true and integral commitment to the struggling campesinos (farmers)of the remote areas in the dominican republic. They service 220 communities and have trained over 265 local health care volunteers (cooperadores) from these communities to assist in the primary health care and screening. The cooperadores are trained by ilac, with educational aids from vhp to select patients in need of eye care. They accompany patients to the ilac mission headquartes, stay at their side during treatment and/or surgery and monitor their progress in the villages. As the patients from the rural communities come in to the mission site for eye care they registered, given an eye examination and corrective lenses as needed. Medical and surgical problems addressed and treated as needed. This year our team of 95 volunteers saw 1,214 prescreened patients. Our opthalmology surgeons completed 288 surgeries, 51 laser procedures, 65 dermatology surgical procedures, and 98 consultations. There were 24 patients fitted with eye prosthetic. Adult blindness secondary to mature cataract formation can be treated successfully, restoring useful vision to these patients. Many of the surgical cases are children with strabismus (crossing of the eyes). Our ocular plastic and reconstruction surgical team help with tumors, lid positions, lacrimal disorders, congenital and traumatic deformities. Most of the laser treatments are to treat glaucoma and retinal disease. Through ilac, we have worked in conjunction with a local opthalmologists that has helped with follow up care for the surgical patients. Early in 2004 ilac finished construction on their clinic/hospital at the mission site. We were the first to use this wonderful facility on our march/april '04 mission. This makes it much easier for our group and several others, in different disciplines, to offer their volunteer services to the people. Other areas that we have helped opthalmologists work are: jerusalem, in 2002, '03, '04,'05,'06”