On the 09th February 2020, IMASA Ladysmith Branch coordinated an outreach programme at the Namakazi Primary School, Rockcliff about 55km out of Ladysmith.
Unfortunately, the programme was disrupted by load shedding severely curtailing the Optometry and Audiology services, but this did not dampen the mood of any of our volunteers and the services continued as best we could. This year’s Programme was enhanced by Podiatry and Occupational Therapy services, facilitated by Alicia Lalbeharie and Fathima Randeree.
Once again, the assistance from our learners from IEC continues to be invaluable and that of all our medical volunteers who sacrifice their time and skills to uplift the underprivileged communities.
It must be noted that at our Outreach Programmes, the dental and optometry services are most widely used. This highlights the lack of these facilities at local hospitals and Government primary health centres. On more than one occasion the optometrists returned to the area a week later to complete the backlog. Furthermore, patients requiring spectacles are provided with the spectacles and those requiring cataracts are prioritised when a cataract programme is done.
