Lambaréné – glasses for people in Gabon

5|2016 Our long-standing client Gerhard Hartmann, a master optician, visited a hospital in the middle of the bush in 2013: the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, in Gabon on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa. Seeing the “optical” need first-hand, he decided to start a glasses collection – people there simply can’t afford a pair of glasses. In April 2016, Mr Hartmann returned and was able to fit 1,400 people with some 2,890 donated pairs of glasses. He also assisted the “Caravane” team with 50 cataract operations. In his words: “The 16-hour days were exhausting, successful and, for me personally, very rewarding.”

We supported this wonderful initiative with a financial contribution. If you’d like to donate glasses or help financially, you can contact Gerhard Hartmann MSc.optom at [email protected]. You’re also welcome to drop off glasses at our office and we’ll pass them on to Mr Hartmann. Help us help!