Private public partnership a sight for sore eyes

MBOMBELA – The public health system is far from perfect, and to better serve its patients the provincial Department of Health partnered with the private sector to improve health care to state patients.

The department joined forces with Lowveld Hospital on Saturday to give 20 patients the gift of sight back.

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Nursing manager Sr Christine Crous explained that some patients were practically blind and had waited three to four years for the operations. To reduce the number of people with avoidable blindness caused by cataracts, especially in senior citizens, it was decided to operate on one eye of each of the 20 patients, to restore some sight to them.

During the procedure the old lens was removed and replaced with an artificial one, to restore sight.

Many patients were scared to undergo the operation, as it was so delicate.

The department supplied the consumables needed, while Lowveld Hospital made its facilities and nurses available. Private doctors performed the procedures.

Dr Willie Malan from the NelAnest Group as well as ophthalmologists Drs Danie Louw, Carl Wilms, Johan Eksteen and Edrich Engelbrecht contributed.

Health department acting deputy director general for clinical services, Sipho Motau said the department had only three such specialists in the province.

“The demand is high. We want to especially focus on helping vulnerable groups, including the elderly. It was critical forging a partnership with the private sector.”

“The department has been very open to it. The MEC, Gillion Mashego and head of department, Dr Savera Mohangi, have been very positive about it. It also helps to break down the barriers between the private and public sectors which are worlds apart.

“It gives us a platform to get to know each other,” he said.

“It is nice to feel as though you are helping,” Wehan said.

“He said he started seeing better while still in the theatre. We are very thankful,” she concluded.

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