By Victor Angula/
Minister for Health and Social Services Dr Kalumbi Shangula today officially opened the “one-stop shop” eye clinic at the Oshakati Intermediate State Hospital.
While there has been an ophthalmology department at this hospital, which has been known as the “eye clinic”, now with a partnership with South African-based Onesight EssilorLuxottica Foundation (OSELF), patients with various eye conditions will no longer be sent away for prescription glasses but will be provided them at this “sustainable vision centre”.
This Sustainable Vision Centre is a result of the idea to provide sustainable eye care services to thousands of people who in the past would not have had such care accessible to them due to the high cost at private health institutions where they used to be referred.
The event was attended by the Director for Africa Programs at OSELF Ms Naadhira Ndukuya, as well as well-known eye specialist Dr Helena Ndume.
The partnership with the OSELF will ensure that while patients receive free eye screening and other care from the hospital, the prescription glasses which the patients may need will be provided to them at a small fee.
The glasses will be supplied from South Africa by OSELF. The small fee charged for the glasses will be in order to ensure sustainability of the programme
Ms Ndukuya stated that the OSELF has been operating in 23 African countries, and last year they reached a milestone of supplying the 1 millionth eye glass.
Dr Shangula stated that this vision centre will help many people in the society. “Many school child have continued to fail at school due to various eye conditions, and adults have also been affected, Dr Shangula said.
“Now with these services we are launching today, it will enhance the productivity and quality of life for our people.”
In the photo: Chief Optometrist of the vision centre Biryk T. Haile shows guests around at the new sustainable vision centre. Looking on is Dr Helena Ndume, Oshana Regional Health Director Ms Johanna Haimene, and Dr Kalumbi Shangula.
