Adrian
At 14 Adrian is the oldest of five kids who struggle to survive, living in a one room 5x4 mud-over-bamboo home in a shanty town. Adrian doesn’t have a dad and his mum tries to make ends meet with whatever work she can find. He told Geoff Hurren that he finds it hard to study and gets bored quickly as he can’t see the chalkboard. He mentioned that he often misses classes as he has to pick up odd jobs to earn extra money for his family.
As Adrian was progressively refracted his vision became clearer and clearer until he was found to have a significant requirement of -7.50 and -9.00 lenses. Adrian said that this was the first time he ever recalled being able to see clearly. He told Geoff that he hoped his new glasses would help him improve in school and enable him to realize his ambition of becoming a teacher.
Geoff Hurren, Queensland Territory Manager for CIBA VISION Australia, spent two weeks in Mozambique in late February, volunteering as an optical dispenser and photographer for Lúrio University’s ‘Campaign for Vision’*. The visit was sponsored by CIBA VISION in order to give one of their staff the opportunity to see how the company’s global sponsorship of Optometry Giving Sight was helping to transform the lives of people in need.
Geoff’s contribution was greatly appreciated by both the patients and the organizers and we thank CIBA VISION for funding his trip. We look forward to working with Lúrio University and the other partners involved in the Campaign for Vision* to develop a regional school of Optometry in Mozambique that will train local people to provide reliable and accessible vision care services to more people like Adrian.
*The Campaign for Vision was undertaken by Lúrio University, Mozambique with support from ICEE, the Brazilian Optometrists Association and Irish Aid.
