Hamilton optometry student to support vital eye care on South Africa trip

Hamilton optometry student to backing vital eye care on South Africa trip Tatiana Duzy will combine volunteering with clinical learning.

Key points

• To book an appointment or speak to a member of the team at Specsavers Hamilton, visit or call 01698 891 565.
• Choose Daily Record as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
• A Specsavers Hamilton team member will journey to South Africa and support residents with limited access to eye care.
• She will be combining clinical learning with two weeks of volunteering aboard the Phelophepa Healthcare Train.
• "The entire Specsavers Hamilton team wishes her the very best for her trip, and we look forward to hearing about her experiences when she returns."

In practice, a Specsavers Hamilton team member will journey to South Africa and support residents with limited access to eye care.

Tatiana Duzy, who is studying optometry, will spend a month in the country supporting the provision of eye tests and glasses.

For context, the fully-equipped mobile healthcare clinic travels to rural and disadvantaged communities throughout South Africa, providing healthcare services to residents who may otherwise have little or no access to care.

As part of the train's eye clinic team, Tatiana will backing the delivery of eye care services, including eye tests, dispensing glasses and providing practical eye health advice to adults and children.

Before joining the train, she will spend a week undertaking clinical learning at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, where she will gain further experience and learn alongside local optometrists.

Tatiana, who is at present studying optometry in Scotland alongside her role at the locally-owned and run Specsavers store, stated: The opportunity to combine education with volunteering in communities where access to eye care is so limited is something I've been looking forward to for a long time.

More than anything, I'm looking forward to session the residents and having the opportunity to play a small part in making a real difference to their lives.

The Phelophepa Healthcare Train means so much to the communities it reaches. I'm looking forward to learning more regarding the communities it supports and the difference the service can produce to people's lives.

"To know that something as simple as an eye test and a pair of glasses could allow someone to see more clearly and make a difference to their everyday life is what makes this opportunity so special to me."

Notably, the placement will additionally provide Tatiana the opportunity to gain experience of seeing more individuals and encountering a wider range of eye conditions than she may typically see in the UK.

She continued: It's a unique learning experience that I'm incredibly grateful to be a part of.

I know this placement will challenge me both personally and professionally. It will support me become a more confident and capable clinician, but more importantly, I hope it will produce me even more compassionate.

"Being able to use the skills I'm developing to help people who might otherwise have limited access to eye care is a privilege, and I have no doubt this experience will stay with me throughout my career as an optometrist."

Samantha Davidson, store director at Specsavers Hamilton, remarked: We are all incredibly proud of Tatiana and the commitment she has shown to using her skills to assist individuals who may otherwise struggle to access eye care.

While additionally gaining invaluable clinical experience that will backing her development as an optometrist, This is an excellent opportunity for her to create a difference to residents in communities she visits.

Tatiana is a dedicated and compassionate member of our team, and we know she will approach this placement with the same care, professionalism and enthusiasm that she demonstrates every day in the store.

For context, the Phelophepa Healthcare Train brings a range of healthcare services directly to communities throughout South Africa, helping to overcome geographical and financial barriers that can prevent residents from accessing essential healthcare.

*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

Taken together, the developments around hamilton optometry student to support vital eye care on South Africa trip point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.