CHANGING DIABETES BUS COMMEMORATES WORLD SIGHT DAY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

The Department of Health and Social Development commemorated World Sight Day today at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. A special program was arranged by The Gauteng Provincial Government to undertake diabetes and eye care screening for various healthcare workers from the Guateng Province. All those present were addressed by various speakers including the MEC for Health and Social Development, Qedani Mahlangu, an Ophthamologist and a highly inspirational 95 year old patient whose sight had been restored through a cataract operation.

After the formal speeches, the MEC was invited onto the Changing Diabetes Bus. This afforded Novo Nordisk an opportunity to explain to the MEC the role of the Changing Diabetes Bus. The MEC showed considerable interest in the project and was really impressed with the facilitites. Moreover she strongly approved of the fact that the project was community based and that referrals were being made back into the public healthcare sector. Furthermore it was an opportunity for the MEC to interact with patients on the bus and to see first hand the invaluable work that is done on the bus. She then underwent personal screening.

The was a continuous flow of patients and their entusiasm was evident from the smiles on their faces. Over the past 3 days, the support and work of the nursing staff and optometrists from the Gauteng Department of Healt was incredible.