This year’s visiting team has departed for Malawi. They’re seen here at Heathrow Terminal 2 with baggage stuffed to the limit with donated glasses and equipment for the clinics, as well as text books for the students we’re sponsoring. The volunteer team includes clinical staff from Essex County Hospital eye department at Colchester — and their cameraman.
Their first task on arrival will be to pick up (from our import agent) the autorefractor donated by Rotary Club of Colchester Trinity (see previous posts), and take it to the mission hospital at Embangweni. Other tasks will include: reviewing progress, needs and concerns with staff and managers at the Embangweni, Ekwendeni and Livingstonia hospitals; doing training; and meeting the students we’re sponsoring. They might actually see some patients, but that’s not such a pressing need now, with local staff running round-the-year clinics.