Eye screening launched in Tembisa
Most of the children were treated for minor ailments due to allergies, with a few cases for referrals identified.
The South African National Council for the Blind has stood for the full rights and inclusion of visually impaired South Africans for over 85 years.
Its eye care division, the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness, work towards the prevention of blindness through the flagship community eye care programme which provides free screening, referrals and cataract sight restoring operations.
Over 250 children were screened in Tembisa between February 8 to 11.
The bureau took a new step, and together with the group’s funder the Loccitane Foundation, they successfully launched the first School Eye Screening Programme at Nokuphila Pre and Primary Schools in Tembisa.
Most of the children were treated for minor ailments due to allergies, with a few cases for referrals identified. Over 20 prescribed spectacles were dispensed on February 12.
In addition, the staff at Nokuphila Primary School were advised on how to detect possible vision problems among the children, and to refer them to local health facilities when required.
Some of the warnings to detect early vision challenges in children include:
- Losing their place while reading.
- Holding reading material closer than normal.
- Tendency to rub his or her eyes.
- Having headaches.
- Turning or tilting the head to use one eye only.
- Using a finger to maintain the place when reading.
- Omits or confuses small words when reading.
- Consistently performs below potential.
The South African National Council for the Blind was established in 1929, and through a network of over 100 member organisations, serves, supports and facilitates the prevention of blindness, rehabilitation, community development, training and education of South Africans with visual impairments.
The emphasis laid on the prevention of blindness led to the establishment of the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness in 1944.
