Eye Care awareness week was held during the 5th to the 10th of October 2009. Jonga trust hosted a number of eye care awareness activities during the week to promote the importance of our sight and the necessity to look after it. 

 

During the week Jonga Trust visited various disadvantaged communities and screened the eyes of adults and school children.  When found necessary the Jonga Optometrists would do a complete eye test on the premises to determine the refractive error of the patient.  Thereafter the patient could choose from a selection of frames which will be used to make up their spectacles.   Through various donations and support from companies and organisations like Lions Club Tokai, Alcon Pharmaceuticals, Transitions Optical and Hoya Optical it was possible to provide these services and products to the communities at no cost to them.

 

The success of the program was phenomenal.  Of all the people screened and tested, Jonga Trust could provide 50 pairs of spectacles to adults and 142 pairs of spectacles to school going children.  A further 132 people were referred on to receive specialised Ophthalmological care due to various ailments to their eyes. 

 

On the 6th of October 2009 Jonga Trust screened the eyes of school children from the Soetwater community at the Parmalat Enviro Centre.  The day at Soetwater proved to be filled with fun and lots of happiness for the learners whose eyes were screened.

 

 

Here is a young girl from Soetwater choosing her frame for the new pair of spectacles she is going to receive soon.

 

 

 

The 'Snakeman' entertained the children with a demonstration of the various snake types found in South Africa.  The children had a chance to interact with the snakes, ask questions and learn more about the conservation of these species.

 

 

Mike and Nelda from Alcon Pharmaceuticals, sitting next to Di from Jonga Trust, visited the eye site at Soetwater and were in awe of the snake man’s lecture. Needless to say we could not get them to handle the reptiles!

 

 

 

After the excitement of the Snakeman the children had a chance to test their pirate skills and went treasure hunting on the beach at the Parmalat Enviro Centre. 

 

At the end of the day the children all went home filled with stories to tell their parents about big snakes, huge amounts of treasure and a sound reassurance that their eyes were looked after.