A partnership between the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the South African National Council for the Blind has seen 54 patients benefiting through life-changing cataract surgeries to restore their eyesight.
The vision of the South African National Council for the Blind is to facilitate a network of organisations that collaborate towards the prevention of blindness, and securing the full participation and inclusion of blind and partially sighted people in all aspects of a diverse South African society.
The free surgeries were performed at St Elizabeth Hospital in Lusikisiki, which falls under the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, on November 12.
The department says more than 1 000 of these crucial cataract surgeries have been performed in the Eastern Cape through the partnership with the South African National Council for the Blind.
The identified 54 patients were screened on Thursday, admitted on Friday and had their cataracts removed on Saturday, November 12.
“We are very grateful to the team of doctors who descended on St Elizabeth Hospital to offer the much needed, crucial and life-changing cataract surgeries to our rural people who were having challenges with their sight.
“The surgeries were made possible through our partnership with the South African National Council for the Blind, which we appreciate and support, in ensuring that we give people their lost sight back,” said Eastern Cape Health MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth, who was in attendance to witness the cataract surgeries.
Beneficiary, Thandiwe Mnambani (75), who lost her sight three years ago, was very excited to have her sight restored through the cataract surgery.
“I became blind in 2019 and that had a negative impact on my life, as I could not even attend social gatherings and it made me feel isolated and lonely.
“I am very happy and grateful to God to have my sight restored and will now go back to reading the Bible and my prayer books, which I used to enjoy before losing my sight,’ she said.
