PROJECT DETAILS
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This project is a collaboration between three primary entities:
1. NEU Global, Inc.: A 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization founded by Nancy Uslan in 2010. The organization develops diverse initiatives focusing on promoting global literacy, providing clean safe water to communities that have none, and developing and implementing preventative vision health programing. Through these efforts NEU Global will foster the long-term success and well-being of children.
2. The School of Optometry at Indiana University: Dedicated to protecting, advancing, and promoting the vision, eye care, and health of people worldwide.
3. Eye Care 4 Kids: A 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that administers humanitarian relief by providing professional eyecare to visually impaired, low-income children and underserved families.
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The primary goal of this program is to provide comprehensive eye exams to schools in Rwanda.
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The secondary goals of the program are to gain knowledge about the types of vision problems in this population and the best ways to treat them, as well as to provide optometry students and volunteers with a life-changing clinical experience.
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In addition to providing comprehensive eye exams for Rwandan students, the team will also provide information to local medical providers and service programs about the importance of proper vision examinations for this population.
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Eye Care 4 Kids will be provided glasses to children identified as needing glasses by distributing the glasses at the time the patient is seen by our team member or sending them once the glasses are made locally. These glasses will not only correct traditional refractive error (nearsightedness and farsightedness), but will also be able to correct focusing problems as well.
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Because proper vision care is not a one-time event, but rather something that must continue throughout the life of the patient, our team is committed to ensuring the long-term impact of our presence in Rwanda. We will do this by making contacts with the medical professionals in the area to provide care after we leave. In addition, we will provide information/education to children and their parents about the importance of vision care throughout the child’s life.
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