Knutsford optician embraces social media for charity work (From Knutsford Guardian)

Knutsford optician embraces social media for charity work

11:40am Monday 4th March 2013 in News

KNUTSFORD optician Wendy Diddams has learned new skills ahead of her working visit to Uganda with Vision Aid Overseas as part of the Sightsavers Seeing is Believing four-year project.

She has joined the tweeting and blogging community to provide live online updates of her work in Uganda.

“I’ve wanted to join the lively local online community for some time,” said Wendy.

“My visit to Uganda was the ideal opportunity to get started and let people know about the work carried out by Vision Aid Overseas.”

Leading a team of four optometrists and one dispensing optician, Wendy’s first week will be spent at the Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. For the second week the team will be based in Hoima, a nine-hour drive from Jinja in Uganda’s Western Region.

The team will be checking local schoolchildren who have been screened and found to have eyesight problems, as well as training new helpers in how to carry out eye tests and ensuring local eye care workers benefit from the latest training.

“Some 57 per cent of Uganda’s population are aged under 18, with around 49 per cent under 15, so it’s vital children don’t miss out on education through having eyesight problems,” she said.

“Education is the future for the children of Uganda and the country itself.”

Julie Tempest, of Blue Barnacles PR, a Knutsford-based online media consultancy, set up the @wendydiddams twitter account and her Sights on Uganda blog at wendydiddamstumblr.com

“I’m looking forward to reading about Wendy’s vital work in Uganda,” said Julie.

“This is a great opportunity for people to get a real insight into the work of Vision Aid Overseas and Wendy’s part in it. Tweeting and blogging are great ways to share experiences wherever you are in the world.”