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For release: IMMEDIATELY
Press Release:
Eye Care Awareness Month
SA National Council for the Blind’s Bureau – Giving back the gift of sight
The Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness, SA National Council for the Blind’s Eye Care Services Division, is celebrating 60 years of mobile outreach service to South Africa this year.
As part of our continuous efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness, we are coordinating and conducting various cataract blitzes in partnership with the provincial departments of health (high volume of cataract surgeries) across South Africa during the month of October in order to put eye care services in the reach of under-serviced, rural communities by restoring sight.
Each cataract surgery, which is performed in under 30 minutes, andgives the gift of sight back to each patient – and the Bureau plans to be instrumental in giving this gift to as many as 600 people!
These blitzes take place as part of the Eye Care Awareness Month (ECAM) campaign. ECAM is a South African initiative held annually in the month of October in order to raise awareness about the importance of eye health, specifically around the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness. International World Sight Day, which will be held on 11 October, is an important day within the ECAM calendar.
80% of blindness is avoidable either through prevention or through treatment – which is why ECAM 2012’s message: “Eye Health is Everyone’s Business”, is so important!
We encourage everyone to get their eyes tested at a clinic or optometrist. Protect your eyes against injuries, wear sunglasses to prevent eye damage and treat any eye condition seriously. Blindness can affect anyone, don’t be a statistic.
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