11 October 2007
Gauteng Department of Health eye specialists today, 11 October 2007,
embarked on an eye screening campaign to children at Durban Deep Primary School
in Roodepoort as part of the World Sight Day (WSD) commemoration. According to
department spokesperson Zanele Mngadi this is an attempt to attract attention
on vision impairment and blindness.
"The fundamental goal of WSD is to take stock of the extensive problem of
preventable blindness," said Mngadi. She noted that Gauteng was celebrating
this day under the theme 'Vision for the Children'. As the department we want
to emphasise and educate the public about the importance of eye health and care
especially for children. Today children are screened and if necessary they will
be referred to optometrists for spectacles," she said.
Throughout the world the second week of October is dedicated to an Eye Care
Awareness campaign on how to eliminate the causes of blindness. Mngadi further
cited that during this week eye care specialist across the country would be
involved in various initiatives to promote awareness, promote eye health,
screen for errors and perform sight restoration.
Also, the regional and academic hospitals will be engaged in eye screening
and operations. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than
one million people in the world are blind. In this regard, the WHO calls on the
global community to join hands in preventing the unnatural causes of blindness
by amongst other things nurturing and safeguarding the children's visual
system.
The theme for World Sight Day is 'The Right to Sight', collaboration between
the World Health Organisation and the International Agency for the Prevention
of Blindness. According to the Ophthalmology Society of SA (OSSA) there are an
estimated 21 000 blind children in South Africa.
Magda Naudé of OSSA said Education Minister Naledi Pandor would today visit
the Pretoria Eye Institute to thank nurses and specialists for assisting
children with eye defects. "According to global statistics, 50 percent of
childhood blindness is avoidable," said Naude.
Issued by: Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government
11 October 2007
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautengonline.gov.za)
