Project Vision Hawaii's new vision van to serve Kauai, Maui
Project Vision Hawaii is rapidly growing its vision-screening services on Kauai and Maui thanks to a new bus donation, said Elizabeth “Annie” Valentin, the nonprofit’s executive director.
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii donated the bus, which will split time between Kauai and Maui during the year. The nonprofit has conducted outreach on the Garden Isle since last October.
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii also donated $40,000 and Saltchuk Hawaii donated $10,000 to ensure the bus was properly outfitted to conduct health and vision screenings for underserved populations.
Project Vision Hawaii aims to increase early detection of eye diseases and disorders.
“Screenings in underserved communities are extremely important, as they can identify visual impairments or eye disorders that may affect vision later in life,” said Dr. Kapua Medeiros, a physician at Kaiser Permanente Lihue Clinic. “With the Project Vision mobile unit now on Kauai, the community has expanded access to free vision screenings and early detection technology to improve health and well-being. We’re honored to support Project Vision and its Kauai partners; their work helps our community thrive.”
The new bus joins two other health-screening buses — one based on Oahu that travels to Lanai and Molokai, and one on the Big Island.
Valentin said the nonprofit has nearly finished raising money for a fourth bus that would add Big Island services.
“We might need one more for the Big Island, but for immediate needs we'll be covering four counties," she told Pacific Business News. "We have full-time staff at each of the counties. If they don’t do outreach via bus, they can go into schools and do screenings and things like that. It's going really well.”
By Lorin Eleni Gill – Reporter, Pacific Business News
https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2016/05/18/project-vision-hawaiis-new-vision-van-to-serve.html