Money for eye care

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 293, 4 July 1989, Page 3

Money for eye care

Eye care for Wanganui and district patients is the subject of a $385,000 fundraising venture being undertaken by service clubs.

The campaign has been underway in Wanganui for some time and now Waiouru and Ruapehu Lions have

been asked for helo as well as the people of the Waimarino and Waiouru. Ruapehu Lions president Bob Newton said the Ruapehu club has started the ball rolling with an initial donation of $540. Donations can be left at the Trustbank offices in either Ohakune or Raetihi all this week. Alternatively donations can be setn to: Eye Care Centre, Cnr Ridgeway and Victoria Streets, Wanganui. The effort is aiming to provide the funds for the setting up of an opthalmic service in Wanganui. The city has been without an eye curgery for many years and eight months ago the part time service

offered to Wanganui and district patients was withdrawn and only emergency patients accepted, say the Lions. Almost all the money is needed for equipment, which is necessary for a modern surgery. The Wanganui Area Health Board has secured the services of an opthalmologist, Mr G.R. Duff, if the surgery can be equipped. He is currently overseas and wants to come to New Zealand but not to a major city. Chairman of the fundraising subcommittee Graeme Wood said an added advantage of having Mr Duff come to Wanganui was that he was keen to carry out eye care research here, on children's eye problems as well as glaucoma.