...technical issues uploading late in the week...I will try to complete the blog in a few days.

Hump Day!

No camels here but goats everywhere ... Sometimes we need to stop on the roads to let them run away.  The roads are narrow and part dirt partly paved with lots of potholes.

We are staying in Treasure Beach, spread around in 5 different villas along the ocean.  The one I am staying in has a porch which extends out over the water and provides an awesome place to relax.

We travel each morning in 3 15-person vans over the bumpy bumpy road to the clinic in Hopewell in the Parrish of St. Elizabeth's .

The Jamaicans we are seeing are definitely in need of assistance and very  appreciative.  We are told that the average income is about $35 USD per week and the cost of eye or dental care is equivalent or higher than what it would cost in the states.

It cooled down a notch today and we were able to get back before sunset for a change.

 
 


 

Tuesday - Day 3

We had another productive day today.  The eye team saw around 200 people today and prescribed and/or dispensed 230 glasses, readers, and sunglasses. 

We are seeing a lot of eye conditions related to sun damage - cataracts, pterygium, and pinguecula... but not many with macular degeneration.  I suspect that may be due to a diet rich in greens, fruit, and fish.

 

Hot Hot Hot!

Monday kicked off our week in St. Elizabeth's.  It will be nice to stay in one location for the entire week.

As is typical, it was really hot and fans were lacking in our area. We estimate that we saw about 170 patients today.  

 

 

 

 

Let's get together and feel all right

A wonderful evening of fellowship, jerk chicken, and Red Stripe with the great members of the New Kingston Rotary Club!

 

 

1st Day - Kingston

We gathered this morning at 5:30 for the van ride from Montego Bay to Kingston.  We got there after 10. 

We were working in a school today and saw a lot of children including students from a deaf school .  It was very hot, humid and rainy.

Tonight we are being housed in a dormitory at the University of the West Indies and will have a dinner social with the Rotary Club of New Kingston.

 

 

 

Travel Day

For most of us coming from Pennsylvania, our travels to Jamaica went smoothly.  Unfortunately, we had 2 team members who got to the airport without their passports.  They should be rebooked on a flight tomorrow.

Getting through customs was lengthy but succeeded.  Tonight and tomorrow are for "cultural experiences " in Montego Bay before heading to Kingston on Saturday.