Whatshot
Holgate expedition team off on a 'Vision Mission' to the Zambezi Delta
Holgate expedition team off on a 'Vision Mission' to the Zambezi Delta
The Kingsley Holgate Foundation, in partnership with Doctors for Life and in celebration of the Land Rover Discovery's 30-year anniversary, has launched their biggest humanitarian expedition ever. Taking their Mashozi's Rite to Sight programme to a different level, the team has set off for the wildly remote and malaria-infested Zambezi Delta to perform over 200 life-changing cataract operations, in a campaign called 'Vision Mission'.
Just imagine hundreds of elderly people travelling long distances on foot, donkey and by dugout canoe; they have heard about the Foundation's Rite to Sight work and the possible opportunity for better eye sight; a simple pair of spectacles could mean instant gratification and the gift of sight. An old woman waits in the scorching African sun and finally it is her turn. However, her hope turns to utter despair when she is turned away; her eyes are glazed over with cataracts and there is nothing the team can do to help - until now!
This is why the Kingsley Holgate crew has loaded up their expedition Land Rovers and have headed for Mozambique with their sturdy 'Ma Robert' inflatable pontoon boat in tow, to assist the non-profit Doctors For Life International (DFL) team conduct free-of-charge cataract operations in the Zambezi Delta, as part of DFL's Aid to Africa programme.
According to the World Health Organisation, 246 million people are estimated to have low vision worldwide and about 90% of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries. Globally, uncorrected refractive errors are the main cause of visual impairment and just a simple pair of spectacles can help.
"I don't know what made Mashozi think of it, but she suddenly rummaged in her big expedition bag, brought out a pair of her own basic readers and popped them on the old man's nose. Miraculously, they were the perfect strength. A look of complete surprise came over his face, followed by a big, toothy grin as for the first time in years, he could see clearly again. There were claps and cheers from the rangers as the old man confidently struck the match, lit his stove and made us each a cup of coffee. The rangers allowed him to stay in his home and that was the start of our Mashozi's Rite to Sight programme, named in her honour. Since then, it's gone from strength to strength; after careful eye tests, we've distributed over 200,000 pairs of reading glasses to poor-sighted, mostly elderly people in remote areas all over Africa and beyond. The instant gratitude from the recipients and the immediate difference it makes in their lives is heart-warming."
"Now, with over 70,000 kilometres of rough expedition work already on the clock, they're again going to be tackling some tough off-road conditions - sand, mud and many river crossings - to safely transport patients to DFL's operating theatres. It's a great way to continue to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Land Rover Discovery and we're looking forward to improving the quality of life for many people."

