A world that is greatly out of balance, including in matters of health, is neither stable nor secure. As one of the most neglected health crises in the world, the global vision crisis most critically affects the low and middle income countries. Committed to helping restore vision, and thus transform lives for the underprivileged, we dispensed reading glasses to the “people deprived of liberty” (PDL) at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, formerly the Davao Penal Colony, on January 20, 2023. This annual outreach program of Minority Care International (MCI) was the eleventh distribution of glasses to improve recipients’ vision and to give free eye check-ups to economically struggling communities. This year MCI saw the need for eye health for the PDL in Davao Prison and Penal Farm.In the past, MCI has distributed more than 4000 eyeglasses and has given eye checkups to more than 5000 individuals, often addressing presbyopia in various, mostly economically disadvantage, communities in Davao City. Delivering eye care to the incarcerated, while not for everyone, is certainly a great opportunity. Practicing optometry and delivering eye-care in prison has revealed a side of healthcare that most are not fully aware of, the joy of giving to the most marginalized. With great joy and happiness among the inmates and prison staff at DaPeCol, they received the services offered by MCI in collaboration with the ophthalmology students from Davao Doctors College together with their professors and Dr. Ariel Barrientos, Dean of the School of Ophthalmology at the Davao Doctors College; Dr. Jovina Sandra; and Attorney Susan Cariaga. On January 20, 2023, the volunteers traveled to DaPeCol to give free eye tests and blood pressure screening, to dispense 400 free new eyeglasses, and to provide snacks to people who attended.
From to time, we like to share letters written by the men and women in our College Education Behind Bars Program. Our goal is to provide education helps break the cycle , connecting PDLs students with the kinds of opportunities and insights that enables to help themselves , their families and their communities . For those in our program so that they leave Prison or Jail and never come back. This letter was written to College Education Behind Bars founder Dr. Aland Mizell and Co-founder Attorney Susan Cariaga I would like to start by saying how truly blessed I am to have met all of you. I am truly grateful for the College Education Behind Bars program. It has transformed my life on a level that I never thought was possible. When I started the program, you saw something in me that I did not see in myself at the time. It’s kind of funny when I look back on the past few years and reflect on my experiences while in College Education Behind Bars . For this I will be forever grateful and will carry the benefits of your efforts forward into my life outside the prison walls as you have made my experience one of correction rather than imprisonment.There is not a day that goes by where I do not think of you guys. You have a special place in my heart forever. Please read the rest of the letter
