COS Board member Duranda Ash lives in Freeport, Bahamas, the main city on Grand Bahama island where hurricane Dorian sat for 2 days. There was tremendous destruction on the Grand Bahama Island and by God’s grace Duranda?s clinic is the only ophthalmology clinic that wasn?t destroyed. Many of you know Duranda is a prayer warrior and during this time of tragedy, she wants to be used by God to help the country get back on its feet.
Recently, Duranda met with the Minister of Health for the Bahamas and proposed that her two clinics provide eye care for those in need. In addition to Freeport, she also has a clinic in the capital city of Nassau on New Providence Island (about 130 miles south). He has given her permission to 1.) organize comprehensive emergency, surgical and intermediate eye care services to victims of the hurricane and 2.) find equipment and instrumentation for her clinic and the local hospital and health services clinic.
The need is great. Here are some ways you can help:
- Donate financially. If you wish to donate to the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts, please go to this link: http://cosw.org/about-us/donate-now
- Donate equipment. This is a particularly good time to donate equipment given that the government of the Bahamas is waiving all taxes and fees to bring things into the Bahamas. Equipment that has already been located for donation includes: an OCT machine and potentially a phaco machine (Infiniti). We believe that she needs 2 – 3 lanes of equipment. If you know of someone who can donate equipment, please let them know that all they need to do is get the equipment to Florida near West Palm Beach. We can arrange for it to be shipped to Bermuda from there.
- Volunteer. It may take some time for the structure to be established before volunteers can help. They first need electricity and running water restored. That being said, much of Duranda’s proposal is based on volunteers coming to help – both optometrists and ophthalmologists. She is suggesting one ophthalmologist and optometrist in her Freeport clinic and two ophthalmologists and one optometrist in Nassau. The COS is developing a volunteer plan. If you think you might be able to volunteer, please let us know by filling out this form.
Over the coming days, we will keep you updated on the need. This weekend, Dr. Stan Pletcher will be traveling to the Bahamas to get a more detailed assessment of how COS might be able to help.
Please let us know if there are other questions or ideas, please email these to info@cosw.org.
Thank you all for your support, concern and prayers.
— COS Board
