POLOKWANE – The newly unveiled optic and dental laboratories are a first for the province and will greatly improve the turnaround time for issuing of spectacles and prosthesis in provincial public health facilities, says the Department of Health.
One of our patient who has been waiting for spectacles was so excited to have her vision finally restored. We commit to establish these laboratories in all our district. pic.twitter.com/PBNR9qdgti
— Dr Phophi Ramathuba (@PhophiRamathuba) December 11, 2018
“This laboratory will among many other things enable the hospital to test and assemble spectacles for patients on the spot. Other hospitals in the province will also refer their spectacle needs to the hospital for quick turnaround time. This is also expected to greatly assist in reducing the backlog of issuing of spectacles which now stands at around 12000 in the province,” Neil Shikwambana, Spokesperson for the department explains.
MEC for Health Dr Phophi Ramathuba says, the opening of this lab is a step in the right direction. “I will sleep peacefully knowing that we have put up this lab that will greatly assist us in completely eradicating spectacle backlog which were reaching nightmarish levels.”
Today we are at Mankweng hospital to officially open our first ever Limpopo public health Optical and Dental Laboratories. This initiative will come in handy to address backlog of spectacles and prosthesis .Removal of teeth without replacement will soon be the issue of the past. pic.twitter.com/90ZQboT1eR
— Dr Phophi Ramathuba (@PhophiRamathuba) December 11, 2018
The MEC also officially opened a dental laboratory. “Through this laboratory, the department will perform important laboratory procedures such as complete dentures, partial dentures, and retainers, thumb sucking and ortho removable appliances,” Shikwambana concluded.
