Tsakani – The Pholosong Regional Hospital hosted a World Sight Day event on Thursday.

“I used to have good sight, but things started to be blurry, and I could not see colours like I used to,” said Siyabulela Gladile, whose sight began deteriorating almost a decade ago.

“I quickly sought medical attention, which is how I discovered that the nerves behind my eyes were swollen. I was shocked because I had never heard of that condition before,” explained Gladile.

She said that over the next few years, her vision continued to deteriorate.

“I had to learn how to live without seeing,” she added.

Gladile moves around with the help of a mobility cane. She said it was easy for her to move around her own home because she knows the layout. She can also go to the shop on her own.

“If I have to do anything outside what I am used to, or go somewhere, then my family helps me,” she said.

Gladile said she encourages everyone to go for regular checkups and not wait until they feel something is wrong.

The event’s primary purpose was to raise awareness about eye health issues, promoting public education and encouraging eye screenings under the theme #LoveYourEyes.

Monde Dudumashe (six) was only five when doctors prescribed his first pair of glasses. He said he tries to take care of them, even when playing and running around.

He recently received his second pair and was referred to the Pholosong Hospital, where his mom hopes to understand what is causing his sight to weaken.

The hospital has a thriving eye health programme, with impressive surgical intervention. Acting chief director for health programmes for the Gauteng Department of Health, Refiloe Motsamai, said the day reminds all that the gift of sight is one of nature’s greatest.

“We should do away with avoidable blindness in our lifetime. Everyone needs to understand the value of sight and all the steps to take to protect it.

“We want to focus on the high-risk individuals in our community, which are school-going children and pensioners,” she explained.

She urged the community to use the eye care services at the hospital. Cathrine Mathebe (70), the founder of the Bophelong Fitness Club, said she started the movement after she was plagued by arthritis.

“In 2016, I was rendered immobile due to the pain of this disease. I was in pain twenty-four hours a day, barely surviving on painkillers.

“One day, after my family had left the house in the morning, I was listening to the radio and a song by Joe Shirimane came on. I felt the urge to stand up, without my crutches, and I fetched the broom to use for balance.

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“I started moving my body. I was still in pain, but somehow I kept moving,” she explained.

Mathebe said she later sent one of her children to buy Shirimane’s CD.

“I started moving, and my health improved. The pain gradually wore off,” she added.

Mathebe was soon joined by some of her neighbours in Thembisa, who also had physical ailments.

“I want to encourage everyone, young and old, to start working out. If you are still young and healthy, you will prevent many sicknesses, and if you are already sick, your cure could be in moving your body,” Mathebe said.