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Wimbainashe Zhakata Manicaland Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has partnered the Zimbabwe Council for the Blind (ZCFB) to offer free eye cataract screening in Chipinge.

The programme will take place at St Peter’s Mission Hospital, Checheche, from August 22 and 23.

At least 100 patients are expected to undergo surgery.

A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens behind the iris and the pupil. Signs and symptoms of this condition include blurred vision.

In an interview with The Herald, ZCFB Manicaland coordinator Miss Rutendo Ruzvidzo said Manicaland was one of the provinces with high cataract cases.

“We are going to offer free cataract surgeries in Chipinge in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care as part of our corporate social responsibility,” she said.

“Manicaland is one of the provinces that have a high number of cataract cases, as well as eye injuries, especially in Chipinge district and this is a way to curb the problem.”

Miss Ruzvidzo said recently they conducted pre-screening outreaches in several other parts of Manicaland and were looking forward to performing more surgeries.

“We conducted pre-screening outreaches from August 15 to 19 in Chisuma, Mabee, Maparadze, Mutandahwe, Chingamukwakwa and Chibuwe,” she said.

“Unfortunately, this did not yield expected results based on information that we got indicating that Checheche has a huge cataract burden.

“This year in Manicaland we have been to Rusape and Birchenough, and we are going to Checheche. We are likely to have another programme in Chipinge next month.”

Miss Ruzvidzo urged cataract patients to go for surgery since th condition was curable.

The cataract surgeries  are supported by the Seeing is Believing project funded by Standard Chartered Bank and First Capital.