October is Eye Care Awareness Month. This South African initiative is held annually during October and is aimed at creating national awareness around the importance of eye health. 80% Of blindness is avoidable and the message that blindness can be prevented is central to this initiative.

Prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness are core focus areas which forms part of the services that Council offers. Therefore our activities during Eye Care Awareness Month every year revolves around an intensified drive to try and reduce the backlog in cataract surgeries in the country. Our eye care division, the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness perform "cataract blitzes". This means that the different teams, or mobile eye care units, of the Bureau, coordinates and conducts a high volume of cataract surgeries in under-serviced, rural communities all over the country throughout October. This is done in partnership with the different Departments of Health in provinces that we currently operate in.

Each year a different theme is chosen to focus awareness-raising efforts.  The theme this year is "Eye Health is Everyone's Business", referring to the fact that eye care should be a priority for all sectors, institutions and individuals who is responsible for decision-making regarding healthcare. This includes the individual person on the street too.

Council's message to all South Africans for Eye Care Awareness Month is:

Get your eyes tested this month, wear sunglasses and protect your eyes against injuries. 80% of blindness is avoidable, take the necessary precautions and don’t become a statistic.

Please click here for the press release.

Details of the Bureau tours for cataract removal operations during Eye Care Awareness Month:

• In the Northern Cape, 40 cataract removal operations are planned. These operations are funded by Assmang Mines and the John Taolo Gaetsewe Provincial District Department of Health. These will take place at Kuruman Hospital in John Taolo Gaetsewe District on 6 and 7 October 2012.
• In the Free State, 100 cataract removal operations are planned. These will take place at the National Hospital in Free State in association with the Free State Department of Health and funded by Vodacom on 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 October 2012.
• In the North West Province, 100 cataract removal operations are planned. These will take place at the Taung hospital on the 28, 29, 30 September and again on 12, 13 and 14 October 2012.
• In Mpumalanga, 180 cataract removal operations are planned in association with our Life Health Unit and Mpumalanga Department of Health. These will take place at Mapulaneng on 12, 13, 14 October; at Tintswalo on 19, 20, 21 October and KwaMahlanga on 26, 27, 27 October 2012.