World sight day event - "Make vision count"

This year’s focus is on primary school learners whose uncorrected vision problems could impair child development and interfere with learning

PRETORIA, South Africa, October 10, 2017/APO/ -- 

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla will on Thursday lead the World Sight Day Commemoration activities in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni to raise awareness about the prevention of blindness and vision impairment through regular eye health screening or eye examination to ensure early detection and treatment of vision disorders which could result in permanent vision loss.

Dr Phaahla will be joined by several government and business leaders including the Gauteng MECs of Basic Education and Health Mr Panyaza Lesufi and Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, Executives from well-known cinema company Ster-Kinekor Theatres, and other business and community leaders, where they will conduct eye health screening services and provide assistive eye devices to learners at Geluksdal Primere Skool in Brakpan.

This year’s focus is on primary school learners whose uncorrected vision problems could impair child development and interfere with learning. More than 500 learners from the same school have already been screened by school health team, with almost 40 learners being identified to receive free eye devices.

Ster-Kinekor Theatres will, through its Vision Mission Project, assist the government to deliver assistive eye devices including squint operations and corneal transplants on the day.

Details of the event are as follows:Date: Thursday, 12 October 2017Venue: Geluksdal Primere Skool in Brakpan, EkurhuleniTime: 9h00 - 13h00RSVP: Tlou Tlhako, 082 351 7681, Tlou.Tlhako@Health.gov.za (Or) Lineo Thakisi, 078 655 1145, Lineo.Thakisi@Ogivypr.co.za.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Health.