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FILE | Person using cane as a walking guide.
Limpopo Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego says people with visual impairments and those who are partially sighted should live in a world that is accessible, safe and easy to navigate.
She handed over 65 white canes in Polokwane as part of the white cane awareness campaign.
The department’s initiative seeks to promote awareness about the challenges faced by people with visual impairment.
Mashego, who was blindfolded, walked with the visually impaired.
She says the department will hire instructors for the visually impaired next year and they will visit them at their homes to offer more training.
Mashego says, “We do understand that there are those who have to turn blind because of challenges that cannot be addressed. So, in regards to that, we are buying assistive devices because we do believe that when you turn blind you still need to live life, you just have to adjust. Starting from next year, they will be able to register with HCPSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa), we will also be able to appoint them as the department to say we can be able to go to their homes with our instructors to train them.”
The beneficiries expressed their appreciation.
“I am feeling very honoured to get my independence back because the time when we were depending on people, it was too hard because now I do not need anyone to assist me when I go to town to shop. I will just go without any person’s assistance with my white cane. I am safe, I am free,” says one of the beneficiaries.
Another beneficiary from a village near Vuwani Strike Mashimbye says he is happy to receive a white cane and other devices.
“I am feeling very happy today because I am receiving my cane. This cane will assist me to move all over. I am going to be independent from today. When I have bank notes, I am going to use this money stick, also the liquid indicator when I am cooking to measure the water inside the pot,” says another beneficiary.
An optometrist, Florence Ramakuela, has emphasised the need for regular eye check-ups and early screening.
Ramakuela says, “According to WHO (World Health Organisation) 0.78 people go blind yearly, meaning that looking at our population, 314,000 people go blind and again statistics are showing us that those people who are blind 60% of them is due to cataract, and it is avoidable because with cataract you just need surgery where they remove the lens and they put in an artificial lens. So, that is why we say that if 60% is avoidable, then it means that of the 314,000 people if we are able to operate them then we will be able to restore their vision back to normal.”
The department acquired about 300 white canes and will handover the remaining ones at different districts in the province. – Reporting by Rudzani Tshivhase and Mkateko Chauke
