A BROMSGROVE opticians has helped provide life-changing free eyecare to hundreds of local people in a remote rural village.
Robina Sharif, store director and optometrist at the Specsavers on Bromsgrove High Street, travelled to Kititi in Uganda last month as part of an eight-strong group.
The team, made up of colleagues from Newmedica Worcester and Specsavers Stratford-upon-Avon, transformed a local primary school hall into a functioning clinic. Once it was set up, they assessed more than 400 patients in just two days despite regular interruptions to the electricity supply.
The mission also saw 1,000 pairs of glasses distributed to adults and children, along with vital donations of clothing, school uniforms, and stationery.
The trip was organised by Planting for Hope Uganda, an organisation founded by Newmedica patient Kate Oakley. The trip marked a major step in the charity’s ongoing work to help the Kititi community achieve long-term self-sufficiency.
Building on the trip’s success, the team has already raised more than £12,000 toward the charity’s next goal of installing solar panels and a new and improved school kitchen unit.
Robina said: “The entire trip was incredible.
“The joy within the community was truly infectious.
“While providing eye care in such a challenging environment was difficult, seeing the gratitude of the people we helped made it all worthwhile.
“It was a life-changing experience, and I would go back again in a heartbeat.”
Visit: planting4hopeuganda.co.uk/ for more on the Planting for Hope Uganda project and head to: gofund.me/30bf32697 to donate to the cause.
