Medical Outreach Programs
Eye Care Project
This program provides free eye check ups for the local residents in nearby and remote communities. General examinations are given and if needed eyeglasses are distributed. The eye care program is supported by Dr. Henning Friedrich and by Unite for Sight, a non-profit foundation from the United States.
Dr. Henning Friedrich is an optometrist from Norway, who helps in his individual capacity to provide funding for children needing further eye consultation or surgery in Bangkok as the local hospital in Huay Malay is not equipped for doing surgery for Children. More than ten non-Thai children have either received treatment or surgery in Bangkok Children’s Hospital and still there are several children awaiting appointment for surgery.
Unite for Sight initiated the program in the area and approached Baan Dada to coordinate the program. They have provided us with the necessary equipment for performing the examinations, and also help with arranging the volunteers and the eye-operations. Baan Dada helps the volunteers with reaching the villages, examinations and lodging. Glasses for reading and distance are provided by the volunteers.
Thusfar, 17 villages and the city of Sangklaburi have received services from this program. Approximately 15,000 examinations and over 100 major surgeries have been provided.
Pictures can be seen here.
Many villages around the border of Thailand and Burma lack even the most basic health care services. To meet the medical needs of the children and pregnant women a vaccination outreach program was initiated this February 2009 by Baan Dada Children’s Home along with the help of volunteer medics from the Mon National Health Commitee (MNHC), and senior medics from Thai-Burma Border Health Initiative (TBBHI).
Currently, 414 children were given vaccinations for Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertusis, Measles, Polio, and Tuberculosis , and more than 80 women and medics received Tetanus Vaccination to prevent infection during child delivery and medics from infecting themselves when working. The first area in Burma border that received vaccination is Bee Ree area.
More pictures can be seen here.