Potentially 5 900 learners and youth in the Eastern Cape could receive glasses to help improve their eyesight in a campaign running during Eye Care Awareness Month, World Sight Day, and beyond.
This ambitious programme is being conducted by #Keready, the dynamic hands-on movement dedicated to improving healthcare access and healthcare-seeking behaviour among young people.
The #Keready Eastern Cape team will champion the critical cause of eye health awareness during this time, as part of their campaign to prevent and treat avoidable blindness.
Joining the efforts of the Umbono Eye Care Programme, a pioneering project under the Small Project Foundation, #Keready is poised to make a significant impact across the region, by testing learners’ and students’ eyesight, and giving them reading glasses where needed.
The campaign is dedicated to providing eye-care services to school-going children and youth. These services include the provision of prescription glasses and streamlined referrals to specialist care when necessary.
Three in four types of blindness are preventable through pro-active healthcare and treatment, and #Keready is hoping to extend these vital eye-health services and initiatives to the most marginalised communities in the region.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of eye screenings for young people. Early detection of eye problems can prevent lifelong challenges and ensure better vision health,” said Eastern Cape-based #Keready doctor, Asanda Shabalala.
“Regular eye screenings not only identify potential issues but also allow for proper intervention and treatment, ensuring that young people can thrive academically, socially, and in their daily activities. Eye health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, and by prioritising screenings we can empower young people to see the world clearly and reach their full potential,” said Phumelela Sambumbu.
The #Keready team consists of 10 young doctors, 96 nurses, 50 communicators, 50 dedicated drivers, and over 100 mobilisers. Together, they ensure that communities across four provinces (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape) have unrestricted access to essential healthcare services.
Operating across various districts in the Eastern Cape Province, such as Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, Amathole, and Chris Hani, the programme has deployed eight mobile health clinics in the Eastern Cape region and 46 nationally.
These units offer comprehensive health checks, and screenings for conditions like sexually- transmitted infections, blood pressure, diabetes, and HIV.
In order to further enhance accessibility, a dedicated WhatsApp line (060 019 0000) provides round-the-clock opportunity to ask questions to young doctors.
Keready doctors also host a weekly TikTok Live session every Wednesday at 19:00, accessible on the TikTok channel @kereadysa.
In Gqeberha, via the PE TVET and EMC TVET, and the ECDOH Motherwell and New Brighton Teams, 1 000 learners will be assisted over the next few months.
