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Lawrence Chitumba Mash Central Correspondent
AT least 3 000 underprivileged people in Mashonaland Central Province are set to benefit from a free eye screening and distribution of spectacles which is being conducted by Bindura University of Science Education’s (BUSE) Department of Optometry.

The outreach programme, which forms part of the university’s extension plan to reach out to the underprivileged who need spectacles but cannot afford them, started on Monday and will end on Saturday at Kamutsenzere, Mukumbura, Muzarabani and Mushumbi clinics.

Speaking during the screening outreach programme at Kamutsenzere Clinic on Monday, BUSE Vice Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje said the programme will involve a comprehensive eye examination by qualified and registered optometric practitioners and staff from the Department of Optometry, using state-of-the-art equipment sourced from Dr Finn Junker, a philanthropist from Denmark.

“As part of ploughing back to the community, the university, through its Department of Optometry, is conducting free eye screening and free distribution of spectacles to at least 3 000 people in selected communities in Mashonaland Central Province,” he said.

“The outreach programme forms part of the university’s extension programme meant to reach out to the underprivileged local community members who may need spectacles, but are unable to afford them.

The university identified four centres that it is using as posts for carrying out the screening exercise namely Kamutsenzere Clinic (September 23), Mukumbura Clinic (September 24), Mushumbi Clinic (September 26) and Muzarabani Clinic (September 28).

“The eye screening and donation of reading spectacles has been made possible through the donation of over 7 000 reading glasses or spectacles from Dr Finn Junker, a philanthropist from Denmark who sourced the state-of-the-art equipment from optometry schools in Denmark for the university.”

He said the university has plans to screen and donate sunglasses and reading glasses for people living with albinism in the province during the first week of February 2020, which will be conducted by Dr Junker in conjunction with BUSE.