Lions Club of Franschhoek and Jonga Trust ran a rural farm eye screening initiative that took place in Franschhoek for the rural farm worker community on the 12 July 2011. The Lions club of Franschhoek sponsored the initiative which allowed the Jonga Trust community based eye workers and volunteers to screen 207 rural farm workers and their children.

The results of the screening showed that 98 farm workers needed to have their eyes tested for spectacles, 85 needed reading glasses, which were handed out to them on the day and 3 farm workers were referred for an eye specialist treatment.

The high hit rate of 91% farm workers needing glasses and eye care, just again highlights the tremendous need for eye care in the rural areas of South Africa.

The trustees of Jonga Trusts would like to personally thank the members of the Lions Club of Franschhoek for their moral and financial support with the eye screening initiative.

On requested from the Athlone Baptist Church, Jonga Trust provided eye screening services for their elderly members on the 12 of June 2011.

On the day, the Jonga Trust community based screeners was met with a warm reception commitee at the church hall.  Soon however, under the supervision of Di Powell a registered ophthalmic nurse, the screeners got busy and managed to screened a 102 elderly members from the Athlone Baptist Church.  Of those screened, 42 people needed to see an optometrist for glasses and  21 people were referred to an Ophthalmologist for further medical treatment.

To provide these eye care services to the under privilege people of the Western Cape, Jonga Trust relies heavily on the financial support of philanthropic organisation like the Lions Clubs International.  In particular the Baptist Church seniors eye screening day was made possible by the assistance of Lions Tokai club and Lions District 410A.

To everyone involved in the project we at Jonga Trust, would like to say a warm Ndiyabulela and Impilo! (Thank you and good health!)