The Marumbo eye camp was kindly set up in the local school, with space being generously donated by the head master there so the team could carry out their valuable work. The ground team were were full of praise for foresight of the head master as he followed the team around all day making sure they had everything they needed and making sure the students were learning valuable lessons as a result of the camp.

The eye camp managed to screen 520 patients in total. Out of this amazing number over 420 patients received spectacles as per their assessment, 20 sunglasses were handed out to those with light sensitive eyes and 250 units of medicine were handed out to young children who were not screened. The medicine included things like Vitamins A and B, to help prevent the children from developing any serious conditions. The ground team had the opportunity to use an auto-refract meter. This device allows them to quickly assess whether or not a person needs cataract surgery or medicine. The only problem with using such equipment is with a lack of electrical power, they constantly had to move around with it a petrol generator.

It is easy to forget in our lives that there is a whole world out there that is still very much under developed. Our ground team supplied to the children and any adults with with vitamins. Vitamin A and B were supplied. We obtain these vitamins naturally in the food that we eat; carrot, milk, eggs, cereals, dark green vegetables, liver, meats and fish. All these foods are readily available to us at our local supermarket. Vitamin top ups are also readily available to us when necessary. But for these villagers malnutrition so often leads to poor health, bad eyes and skin.

This child was blind from cataracts. This condition is curable and she received treatment that day

We Beta Charitable Trust once again asked our donors to aid us in the task of treating cataract patients in far off lands. Once again, our donors came to the rescue and donated. Because of the efforts of the ground team in Marumbo and the donations we received, 13 cataract patients regained their sight back after a number of years being without vision. The donations also allowed the children of the school the camp was set up in, to receive a treat of some sugar and  text books on the importance of eye care, encouraging self help. The students were also given special gifts of buns and boiled eggs, which according to our ground team; "lit up their faces with joy as they tucked into the rare treat". In return, the village people of Marumbo cooked up a dish of Cassava and Madafu for our volunteers to enjoy. Both are a traditional and plentiful dish within hot countries, as the plant relie upon on high temperatures to thrive.

Every year we strive and work hard with our ground team to make these eye camps possible. None of it would be possible without your donations, so I take this opportunity to thank those who have donated, you have no idea of the amount of good you are doing. To those who have not yet experienced the pleasure of donating, giving back sight, life or even providing a whole village with water, click here to make your donation and become part of something great.