In 2015, volunteers personally called 1,700 donors and hand-wrote over 1,500 “thank you” cards! Because of them, we’re able to reach out to you, our donors, more often and manage administrative tasks more effectively than would otherwise be possible. This means that ultimately we’re able to bring in more dollars for our cause and give the gift of sight to more people in need.

A heartfelt thank you, volunteers, for donating your time and talent to Operation Eyesight. Together, we’re doing great things – for all the world to see!

If you’d like to learn more about volunteer opportunities in Calgary, contact Blaire at macnicolb@operationeyesightindia.org.

The post Many hands make light work: Thank you volunteers! appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Calgary (where our organization is headquartered) and much of southern Alberta was devastated with a record-shattering flood last week. We received more than a month’s worth of rain in a day; and that, combined with melting snow in the nearby Rocky Mountains, created havoc.

While fortunately few lives were lost, the staggering losses of property, livelihood and infrastructure made this a particularly devastating storm – in fact, it is now considered the worst in Canadian history.

Dedicated first responders, volunteers, city workers, and governments at all levels have banded together to begin the cleanup. While optimism is high, realistically, it will take many years and billions of dollars to repair and restore what the raging torrents of muddy water destroyed. A long term effort, to be sure.

The staff and board members of Operation Eyesight offer our heartfelt condolences to the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the flood, and our very best wishes for a rapid recovery effort. We recognize that for the next while at least, many Canadians will be directing their financial support to local relief efforts, and we completely understand that.

When a natural disaster like this strikes so close to home, it reminds us that we are all subject to the forces of nature. You know, for the past 50 years, Operation Eyesight has been working in the developing world, where people are routinely devastated by the power of natural disasters.

Just a few weeks ago, record-breaking flooding in the state of Uttarakhand, India led to immense loss of life, and now the contaminated water and poor sanitation are expected to lead to massive cholera and dysentery outbreaks. Elsewhere, the drought continues in East Africa, where so many have died or are starving.

You’re likely seeing a pattern here: water can be a terrible and destructive force, but clean safe water is necessary for life. That is why Operation Eyesight has been drilling waterpoints in Kenya and Zambia, areas where clean water is desperately needed to control the spread of trachoma.

Today, even though southern Albertans are surrounded by communities coping with tragedy, receding flood waters and mandatory boil water orders, we feel fortunate to be safe and have clean water to drink. We hope the next time you stop to fill up your water glass for a nice cold drink, you will pause and reflect on how fortunate you are, too.

Stay safe, friends!

The post Through flood or drought, water unites the human race appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Equally remarkable is how this project was accomplished through friendship between Canadians and Ghanaians. It started some years ago when Operation Eyesight became acquainted with ophthalmologist Dr. Boateng Wiafe. Our original support for Watborg Eye Services grew into an enduring relationship with Bo, leading to his appointment in 2009 as Operation Eyesight’s Regional Director for Africa.

More recently, the Taylor family of Calgary came to learn of Bo’s work, and they agreed to work with him to build something new. Don Taylor is president of Engineered Air, a market leader in heating, ventilation and air conditioning in North America. His son Cameron, who attended the opening, is president of Sherwood International Capital Limited. This family has a deep concern for the people threatened by blindness in Africa, and their generosity was a major factor in the completion of the new Watborg Eye Services facility.

To put this in perspective, I’d like to quote Pat Ferguson, president and CEO of Operation Eyesight: “The Taylors’ very generous donation for Watborg’s new facilities will strengthen Ghana’s eye care system and ensure those living in the area, regardless of income, have access to the best possible care. Operation Eyesight is focused on building support for sustainable eye health initiatives among threatened populations in Africa and India. For the poor in these countries, visual impairment is more than a disability – it’s a direct threat to life.”

Speaking of Canadians who care about Ghana, we’d also like to thank the Government of Canada which also made a large investment in the project through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Now that the hospital has reached this major milestone, Watborg’s ongoing success will depend upon excellence in day-to-day running. Much of that will fall to the nurses, of which I was one myself once. May 6 to 12 is International Nurses Week – a time to recognize the many contributions that these professionals make in the smooth running of any medical facility. I know Dr. Wiafe would agree with me. Best of luck to them all.

The post Celebrating a new hospital in Ghana (Part 2) appeared first on Operation Eyesight.