Operation International’s growing footprint across the globe would not be possible without our generous supporters and dedicated volunteers. But with each mission, there are also countless people behind the scenes that help bring our impact to those who need it most.

For Team Operation Restore Vision this year, that passionate helper came in the form of one Kenyan-born American nurse determined to give back to his community. The team’s trip to Kakamega, Kenya—a first for Operation International—all started when nurse Ian Otinga reached out to Operation International last year.

“Ian was very interested and passionate in trying to help his community,” said ORV leader Seth Meskin, MD. “I spoke with him and very quickly said, ‘This is going to be fantastic.’ We have someone who is very motivated to make this work.”

Ian, who grew up in Kakamega until leaving to pursue a nursing degree in California, quickly galvanized his friends and family still in the Kenyan county to overcome the often-challenging logistical hurdles to bringing a team of medical volunteers to a new place. With his help, the team’s visas, medical permits, tax exemptions, equipment and customs support were ready to go.

Ian then arrived at Kakamega County Hospital a week before Team ORV  to ensure everything was in place. Once the team arrived, he was a reliant liaison between the volunteers and staff, helping secure medications, equipment, transportation and anything else the Operation International volunteers needed, Dr. Meskin said.

“He helped coordinate every step of the way,” Dr. Meskin said. “That was very unique.”

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Changing Lives

The dedication of Ian and the rest of the ORV team paid off.

The first eye surgical team to visit the Western region of Kenya, Team ORV performed 247 free, life-changing eye operations in just one week. Those numbers are particularly staggering given that local ophthalmologists—due to a shortage of providers and equipment—typically perform around 10 surgeries in one week. The region has only two ophthalmologists for its population of roughly 2 million people, Dr. Meskin said.

“There’s a huge need in these places,” Dr. Meskin said. “It’s not just access, it’s also that under normal circumstances they have to pay, and for some patients that may mean they’re not going to buy food. Some patients had been waiting years [for care].”

As with any mission, each patient’s story offered a glimpse into the ripple effects of Operation International’s impact.

One man, Dr. Meskin recalls, had recently lost his job given that he had one eye and very limited vision. After receiving help from Team ORV, the man can now return to work.

Another woman, who was also deaf, had lost her vision over the course of several months. Within a day of her surgery, her vision was fully restored.

“She was smiling the next day because it just opened up her world,” Dr. Meskin said. “She could see again."

Plus, for many of the 247 patients, the impact of surgery was immediate.

"Many people came in being guided by someone else and the next day are walking around independently," Dr. Meskin said.

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Sustaining Impact

In addition to life-changing surgical procedures, Team ORV helped staff at Kakamega County Hospital improve their capacity for eye care.

The team donated a set of surgical instruments, a cauterizing unit, and more equipment to the hospital. The supplies will help the local doctor, Dr. Ajevi, continue to expand the hospital’s capabilities. Plus, Team ORV is working on procuring a battery-powered microscope, which would help local medical staff check on patients in rural regions and continue their work should electricity go out.

Outside the hospital, Team ORV also visited two local schools while in the country, one of which Ian himself had attended as a boy. The team donated soccer jerseys, Operation International t-shirts, soccer balls, volleyballs and volleyball nets to the schools and talked with students about the importance of giving back.

“We told them that education is something that is yours forever, and we’re looking forward to them making their country proud,” Dr. Meskin said.

Beyond their surgical impact, the team also worked on establishing Kakamega as a base for future Operation International missions. Relationships formed during the trip went a long way toward that goal, Dr. Meskin said.

In addition to visiting the hospital for a press conference, Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa and First Lady Janet Barasa hosted a luncheon for Team ORV members and attended an end-of-the-week celebration hosted at Ian’s house. The final event was also attended by leadership from other nearby counties who had heard of the missions success and were interested in inviting Operation International to their community.

“That was a huge deal,” Dr. Meskin said. “They are very eager to have us come back.”

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