“The Council for the Blind is a non-governmental organization whose primary role is to deliver basic eye services to people in rural communities. We conduct regular mobile eye services outreaches in rural health centres. These are offered by ophthalmic nurses whom we have trained to take visual acuity,” said Aplos Nyathi, the organization’s director in a recent interview.
The council also provides ophthalmologists who carry out regular surgery and diagnose difficult cases that could not be handled by the nurses.
“This type of outreach is in high demand but limited to districts that have trained ophthalmic medical assistants because they are able to mobilize sufficient numbers of operable cases to the district hospital. The level of equipment at the district hospital is also a factor to take into account when planning and executing surgical outreaches,” said Nyathi.
Scores of patients in Matabeleland South have benefited from this outreach, but other provinces are still waiting for the installation of the relevant infrastructure before patients can benefit.
”I have been having sight problems for the last 10 years until a neighbour referred me to the council. Last December, the council doctors operated one of my eyes that had developed a cataract. Now I can see properly and do things on my own,” said Gogo Naume Moyo of Gwanda.
She and several other patients have also benefitted from the council‘s income generating projects.
“As part of our rehabilitation programme, we have initiated various projects for visually challenged people in Masvingo, Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces. Our largest project is in Matabeleland South where we run a heifer scheme. Under this scheme, we donate heifers and we expect the beneficiaries to pass them onto other deserving people and remain with the off spring,” said Nyathi.
One of the beneficiaries of this scheme, Simon Dube, said he received one heifer from the council in 2012 and has already passed it on to another deserving person, remaining with the two calves it bore. “This programme has really empowered me and my family,” said Dube.
According to Nyathi, one of the major causes of blindness in Zimbabwe is cataracts, which causing a clouding of the lens in the eye. He said his organization also conducts regular eye screening campaigns in schools and among the general public.
“Three out of four cases of blindness are curable. People should always have regular eye check ups,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Council for the Blind also complements the efforts of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture by proving special education to blind and visually impaired children. This includes the provision of braille literature to schools and units catering for the educational needs for the blind and visually impaired.
The council was founded in 1955 with the assistance of the British Empire Society for the Blind. Over 60% of the council’s cash flow is generated through income generating projects such as low cost spectacles making. It is estimated that 100,000 people in Zimbabwe are blind.
Post published in: News