ANTHEA RELIVES SWAZILAND MISSION

Since 1995 Vision Aid Overseas has been conducting charity work in the small south-eastern African country of Swaziland. Eye Clinic Manager, Anthea Goddard, talks to News & Views about the many things she experienced as project leader on a recent trip to train nurses and dispense spectacles to villagers from the most remote areas of Swaziland.

Left: Training local nurses at Waterford Khambala School at Mbabane.

"The team of eight had a twelve and a half hour journey to reach the capital of Swaziland, Mbabane.

"From the outset we were made to feel very welcome. The optometrist at the Government Hospital, Dr Mabuza, and the Chairman of the International Committee of the Mbluazi Rotary Club, Mr F Oosterwichal, were waiting to greet us at the airport.

"Initially we were based at the Waterford Khambala School at Mbabane where we were offered the use of the science laboratory as a study area for our trainee nurses.

Left: A typically busy day at one of the Eye Clinics organised by the team.

"Our ultimate aim was to create a self-sufficient eye care team thus eventually reducing the dependency upon Vision Aid Overseas resources.

"After five days we moved on to the Swaziland Mozambique border at Lomahasha where we conducted our first direct service clinic.

"Lomahasha is a poor farming community, its location means that climatic conditions vary considerably, resulting in regular crop failures and the local population is often subject to malnutrition. A large number of people at this location desperately needed treatment so half the team spent extra time with the villagers while the other half of the team maintained the programme schedule by moving to another farming community at Shewula.

"On the first Friday of our seventeen-day visit the team relocated to the Good Shepherd Hospital at Steiki. We were kept busy with many patients, a high number who showed cases of ocular pathology. The most serious cases that needed surgery were referred to the Good Shepherd Hospital or to the Government Hospital at Mbabane, approximately a three-hour drive away from the treatment centre. The treatment they received would make a vast improvement to their life.

Left: One of the remote villlages visited by the team.

"During our first weekend the team were given an opportunity to relax. We were lucky enough to visit one of Swaziland's game reserves and experience the delights of African wild life.

"During the second week the team visited a further three clinics all involving a long road journey across country. First we travelled to Sithobela in the south of the country. Again, patients who were referred for surgery would have a long journey. Apparently, patients would have to pay the equivalent of £30 for a cataract operation - a lot of money to a poor Swazi, but just affordable.

"Tuesday and another three hour drive to our clinic at Matsanjeni, which lies at the very south of the country adjacent to the South African border. One patient here was so grateful for her new spectacles that she treated us to a gig of joy! The team had very long days, often not returning to camp until after 8pm, just enough time to eat and then retire, all of us were exhausted.

Left: A local villager is fitted with new spectacles.

"On the Wednesday a gruelling journey along roads and dirt tracks to the next clinic at Emkhuzweni, in northern Swaziland. Local nurse Rosemary Manuku, who was trained by our team, tested patients under the supervision of the Vision Aid Overseas team. She managed all her patients well, and only required assistance with the most unusual cases, such as an albino girl with high astigmatism and nystagmus. It was very rewarding to see that teaching had paid off.

"On our last evening we were guests of honour at a reception given by the Swaziland Ministry of Health back at Mbabane.

"By the end of our Vision Aid Overseas project to Swaziland our aims had been achieved. Six optometrists including Dr Charlotte Hazel and Mr Holger Dietz and two dispensing opticians, myself and Gail Price dispensing assistant at the Eye Clinic examined the eyes of 513 patient's and dispensed a total of 546 pairs of spectacles.

"My thanks to everyone who donated glasses for the project and to my fellow team members for their support throughout the whole experience."

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