The RCAA Peace Committee is pleased to announce the 2023 Northrup Award recipient is
Dr. Nelson Edwards, O.D.,Lieutenant Colonel, Retired US Air Force.
Dr. Edwards has led and is still leading multiple trips working with local Rotary Clubs to provide visual exams, eye glasses and medications to people in Guatemala, Haiti, Dominica, Mexico, Grenada, Kenya, Peru, St. Lucia and Egypt. He has led over 45 vision trips in the Western Hemisphere and Africa.
Dr. Edwards does this work in cooperation with VOSH International (Volunteer Optometrists in Service to Humanity) and Rotary clubs around the world. He works with local Rotary clubs to set up and schedule the clinics in their communities.
On each trip, he and his team of doctors and other volunteers are able to provide
exams and, if needed, eyeglasses to close to 2000 people. In addition, the team is
able to identify any eye diseases and refer patients to the local hospital. If the
disease can be treated with eye drop medicines, the team has those available and
can give the patients up to a year’s supply. Working with the local medical
personal, if any are available, instructions are left with them and the Rotarians
on follow-up care. In some cases, glasses have to be made specially and the
prescription is taken back to the United States and the glasses are sent back to
the patient.
The sustainability of this project is that the local Rotarians will
follow up to make sure the glasses are received by the patient. In some cases, the
team can educate local nurses on the correct follow- up procedures. He has
trained and mentored other doctors to take over these missions. One of his first
missions is still going after 20 years. Most recently he has established a
relationship with an optometry school in Kenya which allows its students to
experience hands-on training as they join the mission clinics under the
supervision of an experienced doctor. In many cases it is the students’ first
opportunity to practice, providing valuable experience.
Dr. Edwards is currently a member of the Highway M36 Rotary club. Dr. Edwards is a Past President of the Fowlerville Rotary and also served as District 6380 Assistant Governor.
Please join us for our meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 for the Awards Presentation. At that time, Dr. Edwards will share some highlights of his experiences.
