A DOCTOR from Paisley has his sights set on helping people across Zambia.

Twenty-five-year-old Alastair Findlay, from Bridge of Weir, is taking used spectacles from Optical Express to remote communities while volunteering with On Call Africa.

The charity provides mobile medicine clinics in remote areas of southern Zambia, where villagers have little or no access to basic healthcare.

Alastair, who recently completed his junior doctor training at Monklands hospital, flies out to Zambia on August 8 and will be based at Livingstone for two months.

The junior doctor will be among a team of volunteers who will drive hundreds of miles into the African bush to hold clinics in remote villages each week.

The area they are working has no GPs and the nearest clinics are often miles away.

Alastair said: “Travelling to Zambia is a great opportunity to develop my medical skills and help patients who might otherwise not be able to get the healthcare they need.

"It’s rewarding to know that our patients will also have access to vision correction."

Kirsty Luescher, co-founder of On Call Africa, said: “Our patients live in very rural areas and it is impossible for them to get glasses. They come to the clinic and they don’t know what is wrong with their eyes. Women tell us they can’t see to sew anymore and are distressed because they won’t be able to support their families.

“We get them to try on glasses until they achieve correction. One of the most satisfactory things we do as a charity is helping our patients to regain their sight.”

David Moulsdale, chief executive of Optical Express, said: “Optical Express welcomes the opportunity to support On Call Africa and provide Alastair with used glasses.

“In rural areas with little infrastructure having good eyesight is the difference between having a livelihood and being unable to work and provide for your family.

“Having good eyesight can literally change a life.”

See www.oncallafrica.org.uk for more information or to make a donation.