BARBERTON – As part of celebrating the eye care awareness month elderly people in this area and surroundings came in numbers at M’Africa clinic to test their eyes and get free reading spectacles provided by the department of health free of change.
Speaking to the deputy manager of the eye care program in the province Mr Aaron Sekgodi their visit to Barberton is a build- up of the World Eye Sight Day to be celebrated on October 8 at Kwamhlanga hospital.
“We are here to celebrate eye care awareness week, this campaign is happening in different districts around the province, Gert Sibande and Nkangala district.We decided to get close to elderly people because as the grow up they tend to have problem with their eyes,” he said.
“Sometimes the problem is caused by diabetics while in others is because of their age “ said Sekgodi.
He encourage people to use such opportunities and test their eye especially those who sometimes have problems with their eyes so that they can be able to get help.
”We have realised that in most cases people are afraid to do eye testing because they know that sometimes we send them for operation. Even today those who are supposed to be operated would be referred to Tonga hospital under Nkomazi Local Municipality ”he alluded.
One of the elderly people who received reading spectacles Mr Lothi Dlamini said
“I am happy that I get free reading spectacles since I was struggling to read since my eye sight is very poor I can’t see far .Such services must be provided often as some of us don’t afford to go to special doctors “he concluded.