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Elvis Dumba
Karoi – The Hurungwe Central Constituency legislator, Hon Richard Ziki, and a local pharmaceutical player, Peniel Pharmacy, have partnered with Rotary Club members in Karoi to offer a free eye clinic outreach in the town.
The outreach done with support from a Denmark-based volunteer optician, saw hundreds of people receiving free eyeglasses and free eye examinations.
Chipo Green, Rotary Club Chairperson of Diabetes Cluster for Zimbabwe and Botswana who is coordinating the program on behalf of the legislator, said the outreach has managed to see over 500 people receive free glasses for various eye-related challenges.
“Most people cannot afford to get the services of an optician, let alone purchase eyeglasses which are way out of the reach of many. Hon Ziki has been instrumental in ensuring that people receive assistance in eye care by working with their partners such as the Rotary Club,” she said.
The program also saw people living with albinism getting free sunglasses, and sunscreen lotions with their eyes also being examined free of charge.
“We have managed to distribute over 500 spectacles for various eye-related issues from the generosity of people of the Denmark Republic as we want people to ensure that they have good eyesight as some fail to work due to poor eyesight, ” she said.
Dr Finn Junker, a volunteer optician from Denmark, said he has distributed millions of free eyeglasses across Africa.
“I enjoy seeing lost sight being restored and in Africa, I have been volunteering to bring these services to the less privileged and with the generosity of the people of Denmark who contribute towards this good initiative. We also distribute lotions for the people with albinism and eyeglasses and it’s amazing how many people are benefiting from the program, ” he said.
Dr Junker said it was unfortunate that some of his bags with thousands worth of dollars failed to get into the country after ZIMRA demanded duty which he said he cannot afford as he is just a volunteer doing charity work.
Abel Meki, a beneficiary of the outreach, said he was thankful that he was given eyeglasses which had been pegged at US$600.
” I am glad for the gesture as I was having eye problems and when I tried to get glasses, they were pegged at US$600, something I cannot afford. I thank this initiative because I have been offered a new vision free of charge,” he said.