The 10th of October 2013 marks the World Sight/ Eye Care Awareness Day recognised by the Department of Health as a significant day in the health sector.
The objectives of this day are as follows:
- to raise public awareness of blindness and vision impairment as major international public health issues.
- to influence governments, particularly health ministers, to participate in and designate funds for national blindness prevention programs.
- to educate target audiences about blindness prevention, about VISION 2020 and its activities, and to generate support for VISION 2020 program activities.
The Deputy Minister, Gwen Ramokgopa of Health will visit a public sector ophthalmic unit at the Pretoria West hospital tomorrow morning, 9 October 2013 where 20 cataract surgery procedures will be performed. Furthermore, on Thursday, 10 October 2013, the Deputy Minister will visit Med-Forum Medi Clinic where 10 patients on the waiting list for cataract surgery from the public sector will be operated upon. This programme is based on the Public Private Sector Partnership and an agreement between Health Ministry and the task team on Eye Health appointed to re-invigorate and implement Vision 20/20 to curtail the waiting list of cataract surgeries.
Also attending will be Dr Kgao Legodi: President of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa, Dr Karrim: Chief Ophthalmologist and two of his Registrars from Kalafong Hospital, Dr Wouter Steenkamp and Dr Steven Allison from Pretoria Eye Institute
The task team set up to develop a plan for improving eye care in South Africa and revitalising the Vision 2020 strategy will also be in attendance.
Date: Wednesday, 9 October 2013 and Thursday, 10 October 2013
Time: 09h00
Venue: Pretoria West Hospital, 9 October 2013 and Med-Forum Medi Clinic, 10 October 2013.
Members of the media are invited to attend the session for more information in this regard.
Please RSVP through RabotS@health.gov.za/ ksrabothata@gmail.com / 072 992 7171.
Enquiries:
Khutso Rabothata
Tel: 012 395 8481
Cell: 072 992 7171
E-mail: ksrabothata@gmail.com / rabots@health.gov.za
