Date: 03/11/2003
Source: Department of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Cataract surgery trophy
SPEECH BY MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, AT THE CATARACT SURGERY TROPHY, Limpopo, 3 November 2003
Programme Director
My colleague MEC for Health
Honoured guest
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great pleasure for me to get this opportunity to join you in this celebration today. I know that you had to postpone this function a few times because of a lot of other activities that we had to participate in and I must say I really appreciate that.
This cataract surgery programme has a long history. In December 1996, the then Deputy President, now President requested from all the Departments proposals for social projects that his office could support. The cataract surgery project was one of them from the health sector.
We implemented the project in 1997 with a very remarkable improvement in cataract surgery rate in that year as well as in 1998 and 1999. Because of a number of reasons there was a slight drop in 2000, but this rate improved once again in 2001. Since 1997 about 159 515-cataract surgeries were done in South Africa, excluding those done in the private sector. In effect this means that the sight of close to 160 000 blind people has been restored. We cannot imagine or measure the improvement of the quality of life of these people who would otherwise have been blind.
In 1999, the World Health Organisation announced the Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness called Vision 2020: The Right to Sight. I signed the declaration of intent to support the Vision 2020 project on behalf of the English speaking African countries.
In South Africa we decided that cataract surgery would remain the main focus, because it is one of the most cost-effective health interventions with tangible results that make a major difference in the daily lives of our people. We have set our target for 2005 at 1 000 cataract surgeries per million population. This target doubles to 2 000 surgeries per million population by 2010. We are well on our way to meeting these targets and ultimately eliminate cataract blindness.
In this province of Limpopo, you have reached a rate of 998 per million populations and this is the best improvement in the country for 2002. This demonstrates determination and a real partnership and team effort. I want to congratulate every single one of you who participated in this achievement in whatever way. Today we say thank you to managers, doctors, nurses, optometrists, the Bureau, communities, patients and support staff. The whole of South Africa is proud of you.
I was informed of your special effort during the World Sight Day on 9 October this year. I learnt that on that day you worked from midnight to midnight and conducted 215 surgeries. You are setting a great example because this is the kind of commitment and determination to improve the lives of our people that need to characterise the public health sector if not the whole of the public service.
In 2002, you were only 2 operations away from the 2005 national target of 1 000 per million population. Your magnificent improvement from 583 in 2001 to 998 in 2002 is certainly an achievement to be proud of. If you can sustain this level of performance, Limpopo Province will probably be in a position to assist other provinces that may be struggling to meet the national target.
In July this year, we started to provide free health care for people with disabilities as part of our contribution to poverty relief effort of government. This project fits in very well within the free package of care for people with disabilities and it contributes significantly to poverty relief in the country.
It is our duty to protect the elderly. This project ensures that our grandmothers and grandfathers do not have to choose between financial ruin from paying for operation and blindness. Government is determined to ensure that all vulnerable groups including the elderly are protected and their interests are taken care of. In spite of all the competing health needs, as the Department of Health, we will continue to invest the necessary resources to provide care for diseases affecting the elderly and cataract is one of those conditions. But resources will not mean anything without the commitment our health workers to ensure that these services are provided to our people efficiently and with dignity.
There have been other collaborative efforts through which many committed people have assisted us in eradicating the backlog in terms of cataract surgeries that were needed. I can speak of Tunisian doctors who have come here regularly to do cataract operations in our public facilities through our cooperation with the government of that country. The private health sector has also contributed to this process. During the Eye Care Awareness Week last year, refractory services were provided free of charge to 2 004 indigent patients.
In conclusion, programme director, I would like to encourage this Limpopo team to continue to work hard and ensure that Limpopo sustains this wonderful performance. Once again, congratulations!
I thank you.
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)
Source: Department of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Cataract surgery trophy
SPEECH BY MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, AT THE CATARACT SURGERY TROPHY, Limpopo, 3 November 2003
Programme Director
My colleague MEC for Health
Honoured guest
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great pleasure for me to get this opportunity to join you in this celebration today. I know that you had to postpone this function a few times because of a lot of other activities that we had to participate in and I must say I really appreciate that.
This cataract surgery programme has a long history. In December 1996, the then Deputy President, now President requested from all the Departments proposals for social projects that his office could support. The cataract surgery project was one of them from the health sector.
We implemented the project in 1997 with a very remarkable improvement in cataract surgery rate in that year as well as in 1998 and 1999. Because of a number of reasons there was a slight drop in 2000, but this rate improved once again in 2001. Since 1997 about 159 515-cataract surgeries were done in South Africa, excluding those done in the private sector. In effect this means that the sight of close to 160 000 blind people has been restored. We cannot imagine or measure the improvement of the quality of life of these people who would otherwise have been blind.
In 1999, the World Health Organisation announced the Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness called Vision 2020: The Right to Sight. I signed the declaration of intent to support the Vision 2020 project on behalf of the English speaking African countries.
In South Africa we decided that cataract surgery would remain the main focus, because it is one of the most cost-effective health interventions with tangible results that make a major difference in the daily lives of our people. We have set our target for 2005 at 1 000 cataract surgeries per million population. This target doubles to 2 000 surgeries per million population by 2010. We are well on our way to meeting these targets and ultimately eliminate cataract blindness.
In this province of Limpopo, you have reached a rate of 998 per million populations and this is the best improvement in the country for 2002. This demonstrates determination and a real partnership and team effort. I want to congratulate every single one of you who participated in this achievement in whatever way. Today we say thank you to managers, doctors, nurses, optometrists, the Bureau, communities, patients and support staff. The whole of South Africa is proud of you.
I was informed of your special effort during the World Sight Day on 9 October this year. I learnt that on that day you worked from midnight to midnight and conducted 215 surgeries. You are setting a great example because this is the kind of commitment and determination to improve the lives of our people that need to characterise the public health sector if not the whole of the public service.
In 2002, you were only 2 operations away from the 2005 national target of 1 000 per million population. Your magnificent improvement from 583 in 2001 to 998 in 2002 is certainly an achievement to be proud of. If you can sustain this level of performance, Limpopo Province will probably be in a position to assist other provinces that may be struggling to meet the national target.
In July this year, we started to provide free health care for people with disabilities as part of our contribution to poverty relief effort of government. This project fits in very well within the free package of care for people with disabilities and it contributes significantly to poverty relief in the country.
It is our duty to protect the elderly. This project ensures that our grandmothers and grandfathers do not have to choose between financial ruin from paying for operation and blindness. Government is determined to ensure that all vulnerable groups including the elderly are protected and their interests are taken care of. In spite of all the competing health needs, as the Department of Health, we will continue to invest the necessary resources to provide care for diseases affecting the elderly and cataract is one of those conditions. But resources will not mean anything without the commitment our health workers to ensure that these services are provided to our people efficiently and with dignity.
There have been other collaborative efforts through which many committed people have assisted us in eradicating the backlog in terms of cataract surgeries that were needed. I can speak of Tunisian doctors who have come here regularly to do cataract operations in our public facilities through our cooperation with the government of that country. The private health sector has also contributed to this process. During the Eye Care Awareness Week last year, refractory services were provided free of charge to 2 004 indigent patients.
In conclusion, programme director, I would like to encourage this Limpopo team to continue to work hard and ensure that Limpopo sustains this wonderful performance. Once again, congratulations!
I thank you.
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)
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