Pamela eyes up Ethiopian aid

AN OPTICIAN from the Lothians is off to Africa to help improve the sight of thousands of people in one of the continent's poorest areas.

Pamela McLean, 34, of West Linton, East Lothian, will head for Ethiopia in September with the charity Vision Aid Overseas.

She will be part of a seven-strong voluntary team working at a small hospital two hours drive from the capital, Addis Ababa.

She said: "I was involved in a similar project in Uganda in August 2006, when I saw first-hand how desperate the situation is in parts of Africa. The majority of the population have no access to eyecare, as only the very rich living in major cities can afford it."

Working five days a week, the team estimate they will treat up to 3000 patients during their three weeks there. They will be travelling to different rural areas.

Mrs McLean has to raise £600 of the £2600 it costs to send one optometrist to take part.