Training project for Vision Aid Overseas in Zambia in Africa

Peter and his colleague Neil were responsible for the last leg of training for 12 practitioners – 8 of whom were from local charity Orbis – and they were all learning how to test eyes.

See more about the work Orbis do here: http://gbr.orbis.org/?gclid=CPKcptfH39ACFeqT7QodldAAcg

The 12 trainees were from health care back grounds, already working as ophthalmic nurses/ health care officers in local health care centres.

Each day there was a 2 hour tutorial from 7:30am – 9:30am. Here Peter and his colleague trained the students on how to conduct a sight test. From 11:00am -1:00pm and 2:00pm-4:00pm, the trainees put their skills to practice by seeing real-life patients whilst Peter and his colleague supervised their work. 

Although English is the main language in Zambia, many of the trainees were bi-lingual as the surrounding villages spoke a variety of different languages. Peter said the room was animated with the chorus of different languages as their trainees changed their language from patients to patient throughout the day.

During the clinic, all 12 trainees and their 12 patients were working in the same room with local temperatures reaching 42 degrees on the hottest day… imagine how hot it must have been trying to work in that heat! The patient ‘waiting room’ consisted of rows of chairs set up outside under the shade of a large tree outside the clinic – very different to what you may experience in the waiting area at your local opticians here in the UK!

Number 1:

KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid

Number 2:

It’s not rocket science! 

He encouraged the trainees they could learn this as long as they followed Rule 1

Number 3:

Make it fun

This trip was specifically aimed towards training these practitioners in children’s eye care.                                

It was important to engage the children and keep them interested throughout the test! 

He also gave the students a ‘thought of the day’, inspiring  them to remain positive about their work.

Peter found one of the most touching experiences was with a young boy who had suffered trauma which had caused total blindness in his right eye. Sadly he was being bullied at school due to the look of it and when he entered the clinic he was barely smiling, feeling completely put down about his appearance. Peter resolved the issue by giving the young boy a pair of sunglasses to hide the eye and he was delighted, leaving the clinic with a smile on his face! 

Peter used some of his time in Zambia to visit Vitoria falls. As it was the dry season, the Zambian side was dried up so he crossed the border into nearby Zimbabwe where he got breath taking views of the 1 mile long and 110m high Victoria waterfalls. He even took to the sky and did a helicopter flight over the falls in something known locally as the “flight of the angels”.

The dry season meant the people had not seen rain for 3 months. One the evening the sky had several clouds visible and the locals were hopeful of rain to water their crops. It would also end the daily 4 hour power cut which was necessary as there was not enough water to run the hydroelectric dams which are the main supply of electricity in Zambia! Unfortunately, no rain fell whilst Peter was visiting! 

Peter and Neil ended their final day with a Quiz for their students. The winners received T-shirts and Caps/ sunhats as prizes and were delighted, putting them on almost straight away! Peter is hoping to return to help out with Vision Aid Overseas again soon.

← This is the winner of a Yorkshire Cricket Club Sunhat

For more information about the work they do at Vision Aid Overseas Visit their website: http://www.visionaidoverseas.org/