The Rotary Club of White Rock’s support of eye care in Honduras has received an award from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
The local group was chosen out of more than 1,000 clubs in North America for the Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding International Project, according to a release.
The project involves ZOE Health Clinic in Tegucigalpa, which provides vision care to all areas of Honduras.
Last year, the White Rock club received a matching grant from Rotary International, which – combined with community donations – allowed for the purchase of a YAG laser for the clinic.
The laser is used to restore vision to people who had previously undergone cataract surgery and then experienced the complication of clouding of the capsule. Once a capsulotomy is performed with the laser, vision is restored permanently.
ZOE has been providing cataract surgeries to the poor of Honduras since 2001, and the YAG laser at the public hospital has been broken for three years.
“The people who have vision restored will now be able to resume productive lives, being able to work and read again,” the release states.
“They will be able to contribute to the welfare of their families, which benefits the entire community.”
For 2011, the Rotary Club of White Rock has established a Medical Equipment Project to procure medical equipment for the clinic.
“For information on donating to the project, visit whiterockrotary.org