MORE than 200 poverty-stricken blind people in Africa have had their sight restored by a medical missionary team from Inverclyde.

It was the 15th trip organised by the ‘Fighting Blindness in Ethiopia’ (FBIE) charity founded by former Inverclyde Royal nurse Ergate Ayana, 76, who was born in Ethiopia and lives in Greenock.

Cataracts caused by heat, polluted water and poor hygiene can’t be treated properly in many areas of the country by local medics, so Ergate arranges regular visits by a team of doctors and nurses from around Scotland who give their time free of charge.

This year’s was co-ordinated by Sister Diane Harrison of Inverclyde Royal, and the 12-strong team included Ergate and Sister Lynn Dempsey, a nurse manager who works at IRH, the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and Vale of Leven Hospital.

Ergate said one of the stalwarts of the team is Dr John Murdoch, who teaches at Glasgow University.

He said: “We always have people who are eager to go to Ethiopia.

“Doctors and nurses who know about our visits volunteer to go with us.”

They take their own equipment to replace opaque eye lenses with a new plastic lens in operations lasting around 15 minutes under local anaesthetic.

Local ophthalmic practitioners are given training and supplied with eye medicine.

More than 3,000 patients have been treated since 2006, including 211 on the latest week-long trip to the town of Nakemte.

Ergate said: “These poor people were completely in darkness and relying on relatives, including children, or others to help them.

“Some start crying after the operation when their sight starts to come back.

“It completely changes their life and is like a miracle for them.

“It gives us all a great sense of satisfaction to be able to help them.”

This visit cost £16,000 to pay for expenses, accommodation and medical equipment.

Money is raised by FBIE, much of it through donations by Inverclyde people, including £1,750 from Greenock Golf Club, where Ergate is a member.

Now Ergate is also arranging for a visit to be made by plastic surgeons who saw his charity’s website and offered their own skills to help Ethiopians.

He said: The plastic surgeons will help people affected by leprosy.”

The eye team’s next trip will be in January or later next year.
Ergate said: “I want to thank the many generous people who keep us going. We are very grateful to all of them.”

More details about the charity are available by going to http://fbieea.blogspot.co.uk/