Our Mission Work
LaserCare Eye Center – Haiti Partnership
Every year since 2014, LaserCare Eye Center Doctors and/or Staff (past and present) do mission work in Haiti. LaserCare Eye Center has partnered with the Haiti Ministry of Highland Park United Methodist Church to help provide free Eye Surgery, free Eye care and free Glasses to the people of Haiti. We have committed to send a team of 2 people or more from our practice to help every year.
Upcoming LaserCare Eye Center – Africa Partnership
Our founder, Dr. Gicheru, currently also does annual/biannual teaching missions in Asia and Africa. In 2019, we plan to extend our Medical Missions work to East Africa with our own clinic providing Eye Surgery, Eye care and glasses.
We really appreciate everything our patients and network of fans and followers can do to help us with our Missions Work.
Here is some information about our Mission Work in Haiti
The HPUMC Haiti Eye Clinic in Petit Goave, Haiti.
Where is Haiti?
Haiti is a small island nation in the Caribbean. It is the poorest and second most populated country in the Caribbean. The Island was devastated by the Haiti Earthquake in 2010.
Dr. Gicheru and Vanessa enroute via pickup truck from Port Au Prince to Petit Goave, Haiti.
Haiti Ministry of HPUMC
HPUMC’s Haiti Ministry began in 1975 with the building of an Eye Clinic in the small coastal town of Petit Goave. Since then, the HPUMC Haiti Partnership has sent over 40 mission trips to Petit Goave to offer much needed Eye care to Haitians of all ages. The Eye Clinic was destroyed in the big Haiti earthquake in 2010.
HPUMC rebuilt the clinic in 2014. Sidney Gicheru, M.D. with the assistance of his then assistants, Vanessa and Tammie, were amongst the first team of healthcare providers to help provide Eye surgery when the clinic was rebuilt. For more information about this great medical mission, click here (link 1).
Dr. Gicheru operating in Haiti.
Why Haiti?
Prior to 2010, we had no personal connection to Haiti. But after the HPUMC Eye Clinic in Haiti was destroyed, Dr. Gicheru decided to get involved after a chance meeting with the late Dr. Kenneth Foree, an Ophthalmologist who was one of the original co-founders of the Haiti mission. When the Clinic was rebuilt in 2014, Dr. Gicheru felt a strong calling to help.
Our team beaming: Dr. Gicheru with Dr. Bill Marr along with Ismael, our Creole translator.
Despite all the troubles in Haiti over the years, we came to find out that Haiti’s people remain resilient and some of the nicest people you ever met. The healthcare needs there are severe, but the people are so appreciative for the services provided. It is simply a joy for us to keep returning and supporting this mission.
LaserCare Eye Center team checking vision in Haiti: Vanessa and Tammie
How can you help?
Donate gently used glasses (prescription, reading or sunglasses) and drop off at a LaserCare Eye Center facility.
Donate new, sealed packages of Artificial tears and drop off at a LaserCare Eye Center facility.
Make a donation directly to the HPUMC website: http://www.hpumc.org/haiti/
