Eye story captures funds and help

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A student's research on how cataract surgery on the elderly can help them care for children orphaned by Aids in Africa has led to donations and help.

Ruth Anderson graduated from Aberdeen University after spending two months researching the project in Swaziland.

Many children are cared for by their grandparents because of a missing generation of parents killed by Aids.

The BBC Scotland news website told her story and offers of hundreds of pounds and more research have now been made.

You see lots of kids and lots of elderly but there is a generation missing Ruth Anderson

Ruth spent her elective at the Good Shepherd Hospital in Siteki working alongside ophthalmology staff.

Ruth, 23, originally from Melrose, was amazed at the response to the story earlier this month and hopes it will all help.

She said: "I received so many emails after the BBC website story, it was excellent.

"Most were offering donations or sponsoring patients. Some of the people had had cataracts and thought the research was amazing.

"Others were students asking about doing similar research."

Dramatically improved

Aids is estimated to have created thousands of orphans in Swaziland.

Older people take on the responsibility of care, but can struggle due to being visually impaired by their own cataracts.

Many children have to be cared for by their grandparents

She explained: "The middle generation is dying of Aids and their children are left in the care of the extended family. You see lots of kids and lots of elderly but there is a generation missing.

"Poor eyesight affects that care and we wanted to make their lives better."

About 80% of eligible patients had orphans or vulnerable children at home.

She said most found their lives were getting better after having their eyesight dramatically improved by surgery.

The hospital is carrying out about 500 such operations each year.

She said: "The research and the story seem to have helped the hospital, I am really pleased."

Anyone else wishing to contact Ruth can contact her by clicking <A HREF="mailto: ruthanderson50@hotmail.com">here</a> or pasting ruthanderson50@hotmail.com into the "To" field of their e-mail.