Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE), Bindura Provincial Hospital and Gift of Sight, an American-based grouping of voluntary eye specialists recently gave hope to underprivileged members of the community to enjoy quality life by providing free eye screening services and surgery.
Hundreds of underprivileged eye patients from all corners of the country who could not afford the exorbitant eye care fees charged by opticians thronged BUSE optometry clinic to access the services.
The visiting Gift of Sight delegation included Dr. Kenneth Westfield (founder), Dr. Hon-Vu Duong (Medical Director), Nina, a volunteer nurse, Gabrielle, a surgical technician, Dr. Mike Maingrette, a volunteer Ophthalmologist and Cheryl an Administration volunteer.
Dr. Akim Mashoko the Mashonaland Central Provincial Ophthalmologist consultant successfully did surgeries on 20 patients who had been pre-screened for cataract problems at Bindura Provincial Hospital while more than 200 people were screened for various eye ailments.
BUSE lecturer and Optometrist Dr. Michael Ageyemang Kwarteng said the free eye treatment services are part of BUSE’S Social Corporate Responsibility and it was also an opportunity for the optometry students to get more knowledge from the lectures that were conducted by Dr. Hon-Vu Duong.
“It’s a collaboration among BUSE, Bindura Provincial Hospital and Gift of Sight with the main focus being to provide cataract surgery services to needy eye patients.” he said.
One of the beneficiaries of the programme Mrs. Shupikai Munetsi (50) from Shamva said she was grateful to BUSE for partnering with Gift of Sight and Bindura Hospital to provide her with free surgery as she could not for a long time afford the exorbitant surgical fees demanded by eye specialists.
Tinevimbo Sunday a secondary school student said since she developed the eye problem, she could not read properly and it was affecting her studies as she would only see blurry letters. She said now that she had received treatment, she was going back to school to concentrate on her school work without any hindrances