School learners receive eye examination ahead of final exams

Dr Mangaliso Mahlaba, Chief Operating Officer of Thebe Ya Bophelo Healthcare Administrators.

Learner from KwaGuqa Primary School getting his eye tested.

Optometrist, Michael Magagula conducting eye tests.

School learners from KwaNala and KwaGuqa primary school received eye testing as part of the Eye Care initiative driven by Thebemed Medical Scheme and partners. The initiative could not have come at a better time as learners prepare for their final examinations and without a doubt, eyesight is a critical ability for them.

The schools, which are situated in Witbank, Mpumalanga, are part of Thebemed Medical Scheme’s Eye Care drive with the aim of furthering academic excellence through the eyesight examination programme.

“We are committed to uplifting local communities through investment in meaningful development projects, with eye care identified as a key focus area that will enable learners to unleash their full potential,” says Dr Mangaliso Mahlaba, Chief Operating Officer of Thebe Ya Bophelo Healthcare Administrators who Administer Thebemed. “We passionately believe that tackling visual deficiency issues in schools will help to ensure that young people have the best possible opportunities to excel academically.”

Undetected poor eyesight is a major contributor to learners’ performance at school. Through this initiative, Thebemed seeks to provide a solution where the extent of the problem can be detected early to avoid having their eyesight badly affected as they grow older and in severe cases, lose their eyesight at a later stage in life. The initiative provides spectacles to learners who require them, as detected through the eye test programme conducted through the initiative.

To help drive this initiative, Thebe Ya Bophelo Healthcare Administrators has partnered with PPN (Preferred Provider Network) through their Masibonisane campaign. They select providers on Thebemed’s network who are local optometrists to assist communities to screen the learners. To date, Thebemed has visited 11 schools to raise awareness about the importance of optical health, specifically around the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness.

“The need for optical assistance is keenly evident in children of school-going age. No child should be disadvantaged and hindered in their academic progression due to undiagnosed and/or untreated eye problems. Thebemed and PPN would like to invest in our future by focussing on the most important asset of South Africa, our children,” says PPN Manager, Thulani Booysen. “Through the Masibonisane campaign, PPN provide optical services to ensure that disadvantaged children in disadvantaged areas obtain spectacles every second year and further optical assistance, not only to improve their vision, but the quality of life and their future.”