UK opticians help 900 Malawians
Experts from Wales, who have corrected eyesight for over 900 people from Karonga Central Constituency, have urged government to find resources to conduct mobile eye clinics because many people in the country have problems with sight.
Optometrist Peter Hong, who works in clinics at the Cardiff University and ophthalmologist John Rowlands both from Wales, led a team of nine experts who conducted the year-long clinic.
“Many people we have seen are now able to see again now. We have given them glasses. Others have cataract which needs surgery and we did not prepare for that. Eye cataract can be another project. Our recommendation is for government to have an eye specialist here. That can be good,” said Hong at Mwenilondo Primary School where the people received corrected eyesight.
Hong said 1,300 glasses were given out to the people under the auspices of Rotary Club of Panllantraith.
In his remarks, Rowlands said they conducted the eye clinic in Karonga Central because of the relationship that exists between the Member of Parliament for the area Frank Mwenefumbo and himself.
Mwenefumbo said he was happy that his constituents, who were complaining about eyesight problems, were now helped. He said he would personally talk to the Minister of Health to consider making outreach programmes, saying “people are suffering in the villages as the old cannot go to hospitals where they are not even assured of getting services.”
Two old women, Mickdona Nyalungwe and Edna Nyachali said in different interviews that they were happy to see again.
Nyalungwe said she could not read but with the new glasses she received, she was able to read properly.
On her part, Nyachali said she was shortsighted but now with the glasses, her sight was corrected.
“I thank God for sending these people here. We have received free glasses and my sight is back to normal,” said Nyalungwe, whose youngest child was born in 1970.
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