The Christian Ophthalmic Surgery Expedition Network (ChOSEN) is actively recruiting volunteer ophthalmologists, ophthalmic surgical assistants, and surgical nurses for their upcoming eye surgery projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

ChOSEN initiated its work in Congo in 2022. Congo was specifically targeted by our charity because it has > 100 million people with no modern cataract surgery available for public patients and no retina surgery in-country regardless of financial status (patients with financial means needing retina intervention typically travel to Kenya or South Africa for care).

ChOSEN is collaborating with a local Congolese ophthalmologist, an in-country ophthalmologist who directs Christian Blind Mission (CBM), and a pastor who heads an international church in Kinshasa.

• Dates: Typically, for a two-week trip, expect 8-10 operating days and it will involve just eye surgery from our team (no clinic work).
• Equipment / Supplies in Congo are mostly Alcon products and we have 3 Infinitis, 2 Constellations, 2 Visu 160 Zeiss microscopes, and 2 Luxor microscopes.
• We have capabilities of running 4 surgical beds simultaneously (3 cataract and one retina, or 2 cataract and 2 retina stations).
• We are collaborating with the Congolese public hospital system and will use their facilities with our equipment and supplies.
• We are the only ones offering free-of-charge phaco and retina surgery on public patients in Congo. We have plans to expand our operations and acquire our own infrastructure in Kinshasa.
• We distribute French Bibles to all surgical patients and try to plug patients into a church congregation whenever possible.
• All travel/transporation/food/hotel are arranged by ChOSEN and your safety is our priority.
• The hotel accommodations are very good, comparable to a Westin, with WI-FI access.
• These projects are 2-weeks long, and a typical phaco surgeon would perform 12-18 phaco surgeries per operating day.
• Majority of the cataract surgery (60-70%) is done by phaco and the remainder by MSICS.
• Fluency in French is not needed.

Costs:
ChOSEN typically requests an all-inclusive donation amount from Ophthalmologists that includes travel/food/lodging/supplies/skilled staff support for the duration of the project and would be approximately:

Congo: 8-10 operating days (2 week project) --> 12,000-15,000 USD

If an Ophthalmologist is recently out of residency/fellowship, the ChOSEN board will sometimes make the donation on behalf of the volunteer, particularly if the board believes the volunteer will continue to participate with ChOSEN for many years to come in the future.

If the volunteer is an ophthalmic nurse, tech, or pastor, they are not expected to make a donation to participate (just their time and work).

The above donations made by participating Ophthalmologists fund the participation of the skilled assistants needed to conduct the eye surgery during the project.

LONG TERM OPPORTUNITY:  
If anyone has a calling to serve as a long-term missionary or is considering a long-term missions opportunity, please contact ChOSEN to speak with you further regarding such an opportunity in Congo.

You can find out more about ChOSEN by going to their website: https://www.choseneyemission.com/

If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please contact us at: info@christianeye.net, or ChOSEN at chosenmedical@gmail.com

The Eye Clinic at the Kanad Hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, is in need of another Ophthalmologist for their team!

The Position
It would be particularly useful to have a Pediatric Specialist join us. Currently, Al Ain has a population of around 600,000, and there are no American (western) board-certified pediatric ophthalmologists here. For a short time in 2020, a pediatric ophthalmologist was able to "break ground" in establishing a pediatric practice, but he had to return to the U.S. We believe there is good potential for a Peds practice. The incoming doctor can see as many as 20 patients/day. (Considering the different work mentality and the need for translators at times, that’s a good patient load.)

The Hospital
Founded in 1960, by Christian missionaries, Kanad Hospital was one of the first hospitals in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, bringing international health care standards to the community. Many of the nation’s rulers were born at the hospital so it is looked upon with great favor. While many Emiratis still receive care at Kanad, the majority of our patients in the Eye Clinic might be considered the “least of these.” Patients come from 10-12 different countries. We predominantly serve a large migrant work force from the Mideast and Indian subcontinent -- Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and others. For most of their patients, the Christians at the hospital may be the only believers they will ever meet.

Thankfully, the Lord has provided three full lanes with a nice complement of diagnostic equipment—OCT, Topography, HVF, IOLM, FA and OR equipment.

We have two optometrists who function as ophthalmic technicians, two translators/assistants, an insurance/billing specialist and a part time practice manager.

(We do have the ability to refer patients to sub-specialists in Abu Dhabi or Dubai which is 1.5-2 hours away, but this is limiting for some patients.)

Financial Support
The incoming doctor wouldn't need to raise support. There is a medical insurance system in UAE that does allow for reimbursement for services, though the reimbursement is not as robust as it is in the US -- especially among the laborers who are a big proportion of the patient population. This is a mission hospital, so funding can be a challenge. A doctor who is able to raise some support from back home to supplement what they could earn here would be ideal. The incoming doctor can expect salary plus bonuses in the $75k to $125k ballpark---The first $100k is tax free.

More about the Eye Clinic
Currently, the team has worked out an arrangement with the hospital that allows them to function similarly to a private practice under the Hospital. From the clinic’s service charges, they pay “overhead” to the hospital for facilities and services that the hospital supplies. They then pay direct clinical expenses (staff wages and benefits, supplies, etc.). The balance is then distributed to the ophthalmologists according to their charges. The advantage of this system is that it allows each physician flexibility to balance their time between clinical and other efforts as they desire. An ophthalmologist can serve here and have all of their expenses met by their clinical efforts although that would require near full time clinical work. The option also exists for a hybrid model where other sources of funding would allow them to spend less time in direct clinical work as they desire. If interested, you can also help with organizing regional service efforts to places like Djibouti or Eritrea.

If you are interested or want more information, contact CEN at info@christianeye.net.

Eye Hospital in India needs volunteer ophthalmologists and one A-Scan and one Auto Refracto/Keratometer.

Supreme Task Hospital and Eye Care Center (http://www.supremetaskindia.org/) located in one of the poorest areas of India has a CRITICAL need. Due to the age of their equipment, they have a need for one A-Scan and one Auto Refractor/Keratometer.

They are both very old, broken, and unrepairable. If there is a scope for an ‘in kind’ donation of used equipment it can be donated and shipped directly to India. Preferably, it is retrofitted for India current, but they will be able to accomplish it there as well. Otherwise, they request prayerful consideration for funding to be purchased locally, new in India.

Goal: A-Scan and one Auto Refractor/Keratometer - $10,000

The town of Bolangir, Odisha, has long suffered with meager healthcare facilities for its nearly 75% population living below the poverty line. Recently an Eye Camp was successfully conducted for some 250 recipients in the local community. Larry Derstine, Founder/Supreme Task International is looking for Ophthalmologists who are willing to lead a team to India to work alongside their doctors to conduct a short term (1-4 week) Eye Camp.

COVID is mostly over and travel to India is resuming unhindered. If you or others on your team would like to join them in India for a camp their India team would be grateful.

Goal: Short term (1-4 week) Medical Mission Team to work alongside their doctors to provide surgeries for patients and assist in training local Doctors.

With your support, whether financial, as a visiting team member of mission doctors, or by donating an A-Scan and / or one Auto Refracto/Keratometer, we believe area patients will experience God's love and together we can significantly increase the likelihood of impacting a neglected community with the love of Christ.

If you would like to help, please contact us at info@christianeye.net.

For the past 20 years, the Good Samaritan Medical Dental Ministry has been going to Vietnam every year to treat the poor, show the love of God, and present the Gospel. They are comprised of a large medical team that travels to various villages treating approximately 300 patients each day during a 2-week period.

Any patients needing possible surgical intervention are transported from their village to a hotel in Cao Bang, Vietnam (north of Hanoi), where they are evaluated by the surgeons for possible surgery.

The Provincial Hospital of Cao Bang provides the surgical team 2 operating rooms for their patients. The surgical team usually consists of 3 or 4 specialists, Head and Neck, Plastic, Gyn, and possibly a General Surgeon.

They are in need of an Ophthalmologist, along with a support team, to treat the large number of people with cataracts. The hospital has a very nice ophthalmic microscope which would be available for your use, but you would need to bring/send your own supplies and meds.

While the medical (Village) team goes for 2 weeks, the surgical team only goes for the 2nd of these weeks.  The cost of the airfare would be approximately $1400 and then another $500 for your room and board.

Please prayerfully consider joining our mission. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact CEN at info@christianeye.net.