6 December 2007
The Gauteng Health Department has launched a marathon campaign to restore
sight to people with cataracts before Christmas. The campaign will be
undertaken with the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness and it will seek to
achieve 100 cataract operations in five days. The drive started on Monday, 3
December and will end on Sunday, 9 December 2007.
Currently the waiting list for cataract operations in Gauteng is at
approximately 4 000. The backlog is caused by the shortage of health
professionals, particularly ophthalmologists. The cataract surgery campaign was
initiated as part of the Presidential Social Project, which aims at reducing
the number of people suffering from preventable blindness. A cataract is a
painless clouding of the lens of the eye. It develops over a long period of
time, gradually worsening the eyesight. It can eventually lead to
blindness.
"As much as this condition is not painful and is classified as elective, we
understand the difficulty associated with blindness. We are proud to have been
able to give at least some of our patient's early Christmas gifts," said
Gauteng MEC for Health, Brian Hlongwa. On Thursday, 6 December 2007, Hlongwa
will visit the Lenasia South Community Health Centre where the operations are
being performed.
The media are invited for a photo opportunity.
Details are as follows:
Date: Thursday, 6 December 2007
Time: 14h30
Venue: Lenasia South Community Health Centre, 3 Cosmos Street, Lenasia South
(near South View High School)
For more information contact:
Zanele Mngadi
Department of Health
Tel: 011 355 3503
Cell: 082 330 1148
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
6 December 2007
