Stakeholders at the Ermelo Provincial Hospital gathered for an official handover of eye care equipment on 17 June.

Ms Sasekani Manzini, MEC of the Mpumalanga Department of Health was accompanied by Ms Audrey Maleka, a member of the National Council of Provinces and health officials.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, through its charity division, is a non-profit organisation, that donated optometric and cataract surgical equipment to Gert Sibande District hospitals,” Ms Manzini said.

Councillor Julia Basson, member of the mayoral committee for community services of the Msukaligwa Municipality, was the programme director of the day.

Mr Thabiso Sehloho, president of the church, stated he values the partnership that the church has entered into with the department.

Ms Manzini received and welcomed the donation of the equipment on behalf of Ms Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, premier of Mpumalanga.

According to Ms Manzini, these donations were made with the sole purpose of helping the department to improve and increase services to the visually impaired.

She added cataract operations are only rendered at Bethal and Ermelo Hospital however, refraction services such as spectacle services, are currently rendered by the district eye care manager, a qualified optometrist at hospitals in Bethal, Standerton, Carolina, Amajuba, Piet Retief, Embhuleni and Ermelo.

“These equipment will aid in improving the quality of eye care services in the Gert Sibande District.

Read the complete article in the Highvelder newspaper.