The team from a sight-saving Worcester eye clinic are taking their skills to Uganda after being inspired by a patient whose charity work in Africa began following the tragic death of her husband.
Newmedica Worcester – which offers a range of ophthalmology services such as cataract and eyelid surgery for thousands of people across the county – will be expanding its care to the poverty-stricken village of Kititi next month.
It followed the team hearing about the longstanding volunteering commitment their 81-year-old patient Kate Oakley has made to the central African nation.
Kate, who lives in Caunsall, has spent the past two decades helping to enhance the lives of Ugandan villagers, providing education and training, clean water, healthcare, improved housing, sanitation and electricity, as well as purchasing land for agricultural projects, so that they can become self-sufficient.
But the retired home economics teacher’s work was paused recently when she visited Newmedica Worcester at its Berkeley Business Park site to have laser treatment to remove blurriness in her left eye after having cataract surgery at another health provider.
Kate, a recipient of the Rotary GB&I Community Champion award for her outstanding humanitarian and community service, said: “I was petrified about having the laser treatment, but it was all done in seconds. It was like magic.
“I was in and out of the room in less time than it took my friend who was with me to pop to the toilet. It was the most incredible operation you could imagine – totally painless, like a miracle.
“And the difference it’s made to my life is amazing. I would certainly urge anyone else needing the laser surgery to have it done straightaway.”
While at Newmedica Worcester, Kate got talking with a Nigerian woman. Kate mentioned her own time spent in Uganda, and other people at the clinic joined in the conversation. Then the next day she had an email from the clinic asking if she would like to go back to tell them more about her work in Uganda.
There are now eight people from the clinic travelling with Kate to Kititi, where they will test the eyes of the villagers, sort out prescriptions and fit them with glasses. Then they’re going to do the same in five other villages.
Kate added: “It’s beyond belief. When I had the blurriness in my eye, I was worried, thinking it could be something serious, but I was reassured and went to Newmedica Worcester.
“I’m so glad I did. The treatment I had was so wonderful, and now they’re going to Uganda to help thousands of people with their sight. I could never have imagined this would happen.”
Kate has been volunteering in rural Uganda since 2007. She started her voluntary work in after the death of her husband, David, to whom she was married for 38 years.
Kate said: “My husband’s diagnosis was a real out-of-the-blue shock. He was always so fit and healthy. I’d known him since school. He’d been my only boyfriend and my only husband.
“With the loss of David, I didn’t know what to do next. I’d just retired and knew I didn’t want to do any supply teacher work. Then an old colleague told me about the work he’d done in Uganda, and it was a lightbulb moment for me. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.
“The work we do with the people of Kititi and its surrounding villages helps them to achieve their goal of self-sufficiency and sustainability in many ways.
“But we couldn’t do this work without the support of many, many people, which now includes the amazing team at Newmedica Worcester. Their help really will change lives.”
Newmedica Worcester provides care for NHS and private patients while assisting the NHS in reducing its waiting lists. The clinic is locally owned and led by consultant ophthalmologists Mr Tarun Sharma, Mr Ranjit Nair, Mr Salman Mirza, Mr Tom Jackson, Mr Malcolm Woodcock and Mr Matthew Edmunds, as well as operations director Josh Raden.
Josh said: “Listening to Kate speak so passionately about the people of Kititi, we knew we wanted to help. That’s why we’ve partnered with her charity, Planting for Hope Uganda, to support their fundraising and focus on eye health for the village.
“In February, we’ll fly out to Uganda. We’re excited and humbled by this opportunity – but we still need people’s help for this to happen.
“We’d love to hear from anyone who can donate unwanted glasses, clothing for adults and children, especially green-and-white uniforms, or money towards our total. Every contribution brings us closer to making a lasting impact and supporting Kate’s incredible vision for Kititi.”
For further information or to make a donation, go online at https://gofund.me/b307d4e58
