Eyes opened by trip to Uganda

Richard Ward and colleagues Toby Howcroft and Debbie Young of Richard Ward Opticians in Odiham recently returned from their highly successful working trip to Uganda. Giving up their own time and with the generous support from a whole range of benefactors, they had set themselves the challenging task of giving eye tests to at least 400 adults and children resident in the remote village of Nkokonjeru in Eastern Uganda.

Describing the exhausting but uplifting experience, Debbie comments, “I freely admit that when Richard, Toby and I set off from Heathrow bound for Entebbe airport on 4th March we were apprehensive and unsure of how the week would unfold.

“We were met at Entebbe airport by Sister Veronica – a Catholic nun from the Providence Children’s Home in Nkokonjeru – who drove us to the village, with the 32 mile journey taking 2 hours on pot holed, single-track dirt roads.

“When we arrived we were greeted by many of the children that are looked after by the Home – they were waving, cheering and shouting excitedly; children of different ages, with varying physical and mental disabilities, some on crutches and some in wheel chairs but they all welcomed us.

“Our work began in earnest the next day and word had quickly spread with an orderly queue forming of about 50 patients – at 7.30am in the morning!”

The aim was to test the eyes of as many people as possible during the 5 day stay in the village – prescribing them spectacles and treating minor ocular conditions whilst referring on the more serious problems.

Demand was overwhelming with more and more patients arriving as the week progressed. Some people had walked from neighbouring villages 20 miles away, queued quietly and patiently for many hours in the searing heat (30-34° C), even sleeping
overnight in the grounds of the Home, so desperate were their needs.

Using translators and working flat out to make the most of the 12 hours of daylight, Richard, Debbie and Toby recorded visions, determined prescriptions and gave an ocular examination.

They encountered pathology at a level never experienced in the UK with ubiquitous cataracts, HIV related problems (corneal ulcers and carcinomas) “stick injuries” (usually associated with domestic beatings), rampant glaucomas, retinal diseases, optic atrophies, corneal dystrophies…….the list was extensive.

Debbie continues, “There was a high demand for medications – lubricants and various antibiotics – and we wrote out referral letters for about 15% in the full knowledge that they would probably go no further as there is just no money.

“Only 4% of the population of Uganda are employed and they tend to be concentrated around the cities; the people of Nkokonjeru lead hard yet simple lives – they self build their own houses, grow their own fruit and vegetables and rely mainly on donated clothes.

“Most houses have no electricity and no mains water and yet despite the many hurdles these people face they are emotionally rich: happy, thankful, respectful, humorous and always grateful for the help we could offer.

“We all agreed the trip has provided us with one of the most moving and rewarding experiences of our professional careers; exposing us to the many social, health and financial problems faced by village communities in Uganda”.

Work on the villagers prescription spectacles started as soon as Richard, Debbie and Toby got back. British Airways crew have kindly agreed to return them and they will be handed out by Chris (Christine) Spurny, the American Peace Core worker currently based in the village.

When the Sisters, who look after the children in the Home, were asked what single item they really needed most, their answer was unanimous: they are desperate to have their own vehicle. Ideally a good, reliable second hand 4-wheel drive. Richard, Debbie and Toby were told it would allow the Sisters to transport sick children to and from Kampala and to collect crucial medications that many of the children need to survive (20% of the children have HIV). It would also provide the Home with transport to sell some of their home-made goods in Kampala, including hand woven baskets and hats, thus providing much needed income.

Richard Ward Opticians have made it their mission to raise the £10,000 needed to buy a second hand (but reliable) 4-wheel drive for the Home. If you are willing and able to contribute towards this incredibly worthwhile cause any donation, however small, would be gratefully received. Please make cheques payable to the Ugandan Children’s Trust and drop in to RWO or send to the address below.