D&A – VAO Improving Eyecare in Ethiopia - Part 1

Day 1 – Arriving in Ethiopia

Dollond & Aitchison are extremely proud and excited to announce plans to finance the Menelik II Hospital Optical Workshop Project in Ethiopia organised by Vision Aid Overseas. The aim of this project is to create a centre of excellence in a country, which currently does not have a single optician trained to UK standards.

D & A - The Opticians aim to build on the existing relationship with VAO and make a real difference to the national community in Addis Ababa by funding a project, which will restore a dilapidated optical workshop at the Hospital and produce a source of low-cost spectacles for needy people in the local town.

On 16^th February 2008 a joint D&A/VAO team flew to Ethiopia to visit the Menelik II Hospital Optical Workshop. The team included Tim Marsh, Director of VAO, Richard Rawlinson, Franchisee at Brownhills Branch & VAO Member, Philippa Shaw, Clinical Development Manager for the South West & VAO Member and Andy Cole, Head of Learning & Development for D&A. The next two days were spent examining and measuring up the building, discussing possibilities and exchanging ideas with the Chief Executive and his colleagues.