shloboe boe
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
YOUNG people with albinism and the elderly from Gwanda South Constituency have received free medical care through a mobile eye clinic programme that brought specialist services closer to the community.
The three-day outreach, held from Thursday to Saturday last week at Manama Mission Hospital, saw scores of patients being examined and treated by eye specialists. The initiative mostly targeted young people with albinism, a group that often faces severe visual impairments but has limited access to specialist care.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms Brightness Makhitha (22) of Mapate Village, received spectacles for the first time in her life, ending years of poor vision that had disrupted her education. She was forced to drop out of school after Grade Seven due to her deteriorating eyesight.
“Going through school was a challenge because I couldn’t see the chalkboard or read my books. Even doing chores at home was difficult,” she said.
“I’m relieved that I now have spectacles. It means I can live a normal life and pursue my dream of studying hotel and catering or any other cooking course.”
Her mother, Ms Kiabetswe Dube, said the intervention had lifted a heavy emotional burden from the family. She appealed to well-wishers to assist her daughter in furthering her studies.
Another beneficiary, 66-year-old Gogo Brilliant Moyo, said the spectacles she received will help her carry out household tasks with ease. She thanked their legislator for initiating a programme that responds to real community needs.
Gwanda South legislator and Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Omphile Marupi, said he organised the mobile eye clinic after realising that many children with albinism in the constituency were struggling with eyesight problems, which affected both their education and daily lives.
“As I moved around the constituency, I noticed many school-going children with albinism who clearly had visual challenges but could not reach big health facilities to get help,” he said.
“I engaged eye specialists to conduct an outreach that would target all age groups, with a special focus on young people.”
Dr Marupi said youth empowerment begins with ensuring they are healthy and able to participate fully in education and development.
He noted that most outreach programmes tend to focus on the elderly, leaving out younger people who also need consistent support.
He said the eye clinic programme will be held annually so that specialists can continue monitoring patients and reach new beneficiaries.
“Access to reliable health services is crucial to development. This programme aligns with President Mnangagwa’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind,” said Dr Marupi. —@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter