Kiwi optometrists Lillian Lei and founder Niall McCormack at the clinic opening

The brand-new, purpose-built Shinyanga Eye Clinic in Tanzania is now open, thanks to Hawke’s Bay optometrist Niall McCormack, who walked the length of Aotearoa to help raise funds for the build.

It had been his dream to build an eye clinic in the remote area of Shinyanga for many years, said McCormack. “Seeing the physical building completed was an amazing experience. So much blood, sweat and blisters had gone into the funding drive, including the wonderful experience of walking Te Araroa.”

A team of 12, including McCormack, fellow optometrist Lillian Lei from Specsavers Whanganui, plus local Hawke’s Bay GP Dr Peter Culham, headed to Tanzania on Eye Care for Africa’s first post-Covid trip in May. On the clinic’s opening day, the team saw more than 250 people, said McCormack. “Hopefully there’ll be many people seen through the clinic in future years and it can be used as a training centre to make eyecare sustainable in the area for years to come.”

Sixty locals spent the night outside the clinic, patiently waiting to be seen as soon as it officially opened

Eye Care for Africa was founded in 2017 by McCormack to provide eyecare to some of the most marginalised people in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya, living in a region without any access to professional eyecare until now. To help the clinic purchase much-needed technology, visit

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/eye-care-for-africa-te-araroa