SPECSAVER PROVIDES EYE CARE SERVICES

SPECSAVER GIVES CHARITABLE SERVICE IN BAGAMOYO

Free for all eye care services, including provision of distance and reading spectacles, was provided by a team of eleven Optometrists and volunteers representing the internationally known SPECSAVER at the Bagamoyo District Hospital. The two-day free service was provided by staff of the Specsaver  from Sweden and some local Optometrists and interpreters.

By today (Monday 29^th Feb.) afternoon hours more than 150 Bagamoyo residents had been examined by three qualified Optometrists and some were given reading or distance powered spectacles. The team was putting up at the Seacliff Hotel in Dar es Salaam and will be in the country for approximately one week.

The entire team looked enthusiastic, paying particular attention to the aged women and men, despite the “harsh scorching weather condition” for the team coming from the cold northern hemisphere (temperature latest -2 there to +35c here) at the Bagamoyo coastal town. Despite the fact that Bagamoyo District Hospital is just a few meters away from the beautiful sandy beach, the usual sea breeze seemed to “have taken a break” in the day time.

SPECSAVER is an internationally known company with more than 900 stores in the United Kingdom and Europe with over 30,000 staff  in markets in Europe and Australasia. It provides trusted eye care services, affordable glasses in Europe and across the globe. Hearing services provided by fully trained Audiologists are included.

A British couple, Mary and Dough Perkins established Specsaver in  Gvernsey  in the UK in 1984 and with lots of hard work and careful planning, it was recorded as the largest privately owned optician in the world in the subsequent years.

Mary Perkins, her title being the “Founder” of Specsaver was awarded Rotary International Community & Vocational Service Award for her charitable services. She was the first female Optician in the United Kingdom to receive the title of Dame Commander of the Order of British Empire (DBE) in 2007. The numerous accolades in her name includes the title of Hon. Doctorate in business from Plymouth University.

In 2013 she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by BBC Radio 4 media in the woman’s hour programme.

The services at Bagamoyo are expected to close by evening hours of Tuesday 1^st March.

Story & Pictures by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News Blog

An Optometrist from Specsaver, among a team of eleven eye-care specialists from SPECSAVER, examines the eyes of a patient at the Eye Department of Bagamoyo District Hospital on Monday morning (29th Feb.).