Cascade Summer/Autumn 2012 - Plymouth Hospitals

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Vision Aid Overseas
David Adams, Head of the Optometry Department at the Royal Eye Infirmary
contacted Cascade to let us know about a visit he made to Zambia.
“It was 25 years since I qualified as an optometrist and I felt it was time to give
something back. At the end of 2011 I was lucky enough to be selected for a
Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) trip to Zambia. 670 million people worldwide are
disadvantaged by poor vision and a lack of glasses. VAO is an international
charity dedicated to transforming access to eye care services in developing
countries.
“Providing spectacles to those who need them gives people an immediate
improvement to their lives; with no retirement pension people work for as
long as they can, this becomes so much harder when near vision
deteriorates with age. We saw over 1000 patients during our visit, many
needed spectacles to help with close work and we were also able to offer advice on eye hygiene. There
are no opticians or optometrists in Mansa where we stayed and only 3 in the whole country which has a
population of 13 million people.
“It was an amazing trip, but hard work in a hot country where temperatures his 35C most days. Our
enjoyment at swimming in the local lake, Lake Bangweulu, was tempered when we found out two
children had been 'taken' by crocodiles the previous month. Needless to say we observed the lake after
that!”
For more information on the work of Vision Aid Overseas visit www.vao.org.uk
UKUN People's Health Initiative
Medical Secretary Debbie Ellis recently returned from a volunteer trip
overseas and having spent three weeks in Bagamoyo in Tanzania
PHNT around the world
“I volunteer through an organisation called Cross Cultural Solutions
and have been overseas with them twice before. This time my
placement was at an organisation that runs a home-based programme
for people living with and affected by HIV. Bagamoyo has one of the
highest incidence of HIV in africa and is very poor. Although I was
prepared for a change in culture and having been to South Africa, knew
I would be exposed to poverty and ill-health but I have to say nothing
prepared me for what I experienced.
“The organisation called UKUN, People's Health Initiative, and is a non-government organisation that
depends on sponsors and donors. My day was spent in the 'clinic' providing a walk in service to test
people for HIV and then if positive referring them on to the hospital for the appropriatre treatment. The
organisation's director is based at this clinic and provides a testing and counselling service as well as
visiting the housebound to ensure they have been able to access their ARV's (treatment for HIV/AIDS).
People do not have access to adequate health care, indeed the situation that had the most impact on me
was that the local hospital in Bagamoyo - not only do relatives feed and care for the inpatients (which is
a cultural thing in Africa) but they also provide clean water for drinking as the hospital does not have any!
“There is quite a lot I could write about my most recent visit, more than anything I would like to raise
awareness and funds for the organisation. I have heard since returning home that UKUN is struggling.
The big grants have come to an end and due to the world economic crisis, others have not come to
fruition. I ran the Plymouth Half Marathon in June and raised around £500 sponsorship through this, a
Paypal account has been set up for those who feel able to help, donations can be made through your
paypal account if you have one to peopleshealthbagamoyo@gmail.com
“If you have a fundraising idea, this is also most welcome or if you know of anyone or an organisation
who you think might help, please could you share this with them or get in touch with me via the above e-
mail address. Thank you.”