Date: 19/08/2004
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title: S Belot: Handing over of Cataract Surgery Award
SPEECH BY FREE STATE MEC FOR HEALTH, MR SAKHIWO BELOT, ON THE OCCASION OF THE HANDING OVER OF THE CATARACT SURGERY AWARD, Kroonstad, 19 August 2004
Programme Director;
Honoured Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Introduction:
It gives me a great pleasure to accept the national cataract surgery award that this province has scooped for the second time. You would recall, ladies and gentlemen, that we scooped this award in 2002 for the good performance of the province with regard to cataract surgeries performed during the previous year. Today we meet here in Kroonstad again to celebrate the excellent work done by the Free State Department of Health in terms of cataract surgery programme whose noble goal is to prevent blindness amongst our people. The prevention of blindness, honoured guests, is one of the major tasks or programmes that we deem very critical in health service delivery. Blindness, ladies and gentlemen, is a condition, which is not at all comfortable. Not being able to fully negotiate one's way around the physical environment, and having to wait for someone to assist you to do so, is indeed a barrier to the enjoyment of human life to the fullest. We therefore need to do everything in our power to prevent blindness in our communities.
The Cataract Surgery Programme in the Free State:
Programme director, honoured guests, this second award that the national Department of Health is handing over to the Free State is testimony to our commitment to eradicating the plight of blindness amongst our people. This province had experienced an enormous backlog with regards to cataract operations in the past. However, due to the consolidated efforts of dedicated men and women in this Department, under the political leadership of my predecessor, Me Ouma Tsopo, who is here with us today, that backlog has been drastically reduced although the challenge still remains. Our work around this issue in the Free State has improved tremendously over the years. In 2001, 1790 cataract operations were performed in the province. This has resulted in the increase of cataract operations from 465 in 1999/2000 to 1790 in 2001. In 2002, 1535 operations were done and in 2003 the number astronomically rose to 2 264. During this calender year the number stand at 1252 for the period of January to June. It is clear, ladies and gentlemen, that we continue to double our efforts to consolidate our gains in the battle against blindness in this province. Again, this award that is being handed to us today by the National Department of Health is testimony to this factor.
Our efforts at intensifying our initiatives as regard this programme included, amongst others, the allocation of R1 million for the development and authenticating of eye care services, with cataract surgery in particular. We also worked closely with the department of Ophthalmology at the University of the Free State to train medical officers in the department. The Department also continue to work very closely with the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness and private Ophthalmologists to address the cataract surgery backlog that I said is continuously being reduced. The Bureau is one of the NGOs supporting the department to provide eye services, through their National eye care strategy, conducting tours to different hospital in the province, assisting in the establishment of eye centres. In 2003, the Bureau visited the following hospitals: Diamant, Dr. J.S. Moroka, Botshabelo, Bongani and Elizabeth Ross.
During Bureau tours to the above mentioned hospitals, 5 982 clients were screened, 616 cataract operations were done by the Bureau. It is quite clear then that the Bureau plays a very pivotal role in the reduction of cataract operations backlog and in the prevention of blindness in general. It is for this reason that I would like to express my gratitude to this partner and to wish it well as it celebrate its 60th birthday in October. Ladies and gentlemen, indeed the Bureau would be celebrating its 60th birthday in October 2004. I am made to understand that high volume cataract blitz is planned in collaboration with Ophthalmology and Optometry Departments at the University of the Free State from 04 to 15 October 2004 to celebrate the Bureau's birthday, the eye care week and the world sight day. The target for this blitz is 600 operations that we intend to perform. The blitz will be held at National Hospital.
The eye care centre was launched at Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli hospital last year in November as one of the endeavours to extend the battle against blindness in the Eastern Free State. One theatre is already allocated for cataract surgery and 19 beds are available for cataract patients. Four cubicles were availed for the establishment of the eye clinic. At the moment Ophthalmologists and Registrars from the Academic Health Services Complex visit the Boitumelo hospital for operations in the Northern part of the Free State. The Department also procured new equipment, instruments and lenses for the Ophthalmology department at the AHSC to the value of R230 000.
Conclusion:
Programme director, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, I have already hinted that the challenge with regards to the prevention of blindness still remains despite the enormous progress that we have already made. However, our track record in this battle provides us with a glimmer of hope that this is the battle that we can certainly win. I want to indeed express my gratitude to all the men and women in this Department, our stakeholders and everyone else who is engaged in this battle for the excellent work that has been done until now. I have no doubt that we would continue to work tirelessly until blindness amongst our people is no more.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
19 August 2004
Source: Free State Provincial Government
Title: S Belot: Handing over of Cataract Surgery Award
SPEECH BY FREE STATE MEC FOR HEALTH, MR SAKHIWO BELOT, ON THE OCCASION OF THE HANDING OVER OF THE CATARACT SURGERY AWARD, Kroonstad, 19 August 2004
Programme Director;
Honoured Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Introduction:
It gives me a great pleasure to accept the national cataract surgery award that this province has scooped for the second time. You would recall, ladies and gentlemen, that we scooped this award in 2002 for the good performance of the province with regard to cataract surgeries performed during the previous year. Today we meet here in Kroonstad again to celebrate the excellent work done by the Free State Department of Health in terms of cataract surgery programme whose noble goal is to prevent blindness amongst our people. The prevention of blindness, honoured guests, is one of the major tasks or programmes that we deem very critical in health service delivery. Blindness, ladies and gentlemen, is a condition, which is not at all comfortable. Not being able to fully negotiate one's way around the physical environment, and having to wait for someone to assist you to do so, is indeed a barrier to the enjoyment of human life to the fullest. We therefore need to do everything in our power to prevent blindness in our communities.
The Cataract Surgery Programme in the Free State:
Programme director, honoured guests, this second award that the national Department of Health is handing over to the Free State is testimony to our commitment to eradicating the plight of blindness amongst our people. This province had experienced an enormous backlog with regards to cataract operations in the past. However, due to the consolidated efforts of dedicated men and women in this Department, under the political leadership of my predecessor, Me Ouma Tsopo, who is here with us today, that backlog has been drastically reduced although the challenge still remains. Our work around this issue in the Free State has improved tremendously over the years. In 2001, 1790 cataract operations were performed in the province. This has resulted in the increase of cataract operations from 465 in 1999/2000 to 1790 in 2001. In 2002, 1535 operations were done and in 2003 the number astronomically rose to 2 264. During this calender year the number stand at 1252 for the period of January to June. It is clear, ladies and gentlemen, that we continue to double our efforts to consolidate our gains in the battle against blindness in this province. Again, this award that is being handed to us today by the National Department of Health is testimony to this factor.
Our efforts at intensifying our initiatives as regard this programme included, amongst others, the allocation of R1 million for the development and authenticating of eye care services, with cataract surgery in particular. We also worked closely with the department of Ophthalmology at the University of the Free State to train medical officers in the department. The Department also continue to work very closely with the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness and private Ophthalmologists to address the cataract surgery backlog that I said is continuously being reduced. The Bureau is one of the NGOs supporting the department to provide eye services, through their National eye care strategy, conducting tours to different hospital in the province, assisting in the establishment of eye centres. In 2003, the Bureau visited the following hospitals: Diamant, Dr. J.S. Moroka, Botshabelo, Bongani and Elizabeth Ross.
During Bureau tours to the above mentioned hospitals, 5 982 clients were screened, 616 cataract operations were done by the Bureau. It is quite clear then that the Bureau plays a very pivotal role in the reduction of cataract operations backlog and in the prevention of blindness in general. It is for this reason that I would like to express my gratitude to this partner and to wish it well as it celebrate its 60th birthday in October. Ladies and gentlemen, indeed the Bureau would be celebrating its 60th birthday in October 2004. I am made to understand that high volume cataract blitz is planned in collaboration with Ophthalmology and Optometry Departments at the University of the Free State from 04 to 15 October 2004 to celebrate the Bureau's birthday, the eye care week and the world sight day. The target for this blitz is 600 operations that we intend to perform. The blitz will be held at National Hospital.
The eye care centre was launched at Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli hospital last year in November as one of the endeavours to extend the battle against blindness in the Eastern Free State. One theatre is already allocated for cataract surgery and 19 beds are available for cataract patients. Four cubicles were availed for the establishment of the eye clinic. At the moment Ophthalmologists and Registrars from the Academic Health Services Complex visit the Boitumelo hospital for operations in the Northern part of the Free State. The Department also procured new equipment, instruments and lenses for the Ophthalmology department at the AHSC to the value of R230 000.
Conclusion:
Programme director, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, I have already hinted that the challenge with regards to the prevention of blindness still remains despite the enormous progress that we have already made. However, our track record in this battle provides us with a glimmer of hope that this is the battle that we can certainly win. I want to indeed express my gratitude to all the men and women in this Department, our stakeholders and everyone else who is engaged in this battle for the excellent work that has been done until now. I have no doubt that we would continue to work tirelessly until blindness amongst our people is no more.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
19 August 2004
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
