The Northern Cape Department of Health, in collaboration with Black Mountain Mine and SA National Council for the Blind, will perform cataract surgery camps this month at the Kleinsee Hospital in the Namakwa District to commemorate World Sight Day.
THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Health, in collaboration with Black Mountain Mine and SA National Council for the Blind, will perform cataract surgery camps this month at the Kleinsee Hospital in the Namakwa District to commemorate World Sight Day, which is observed on Thursday.
Department spokesperson Lebogang Majaha said patients would be screened from October 10 to 20 to identify those most in need of cataract surgery.
“The surgery camp will be held on October 15 and 16 and on October 22 and 23. Between 400 and 500 visually impaired beneficiaries will also be given spectacles free of charge.”
He added that the non-profit organisation, OneSight, donated optometry equipment valued at R2 million to the Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington, the Galeshewe Day Hospital and the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley.
“A total of 463 cataract surgeries were performed at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe from April 2021 to March 2022 while 4,239 eye surgery operations were done at the hospital’s ophthalmology centre.”
The MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, encouraged community members to test their eyes regularly and to take steps to prevent blindness and visual impairment.
