The Odi District Hospital in Mabopane has recently opened its newly renovated Eye Clinic to the local community in an effort to increase access to essential primary optometric care by reducing barriers such as distance and costs.
The Eye Clinic was closed for renovations due to insufficient space and a lack of consulting rooms, resulting in no longer being able to accommodate more patients than before.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, said she was extremely happy with the newly renovated clinic, The Clinic which has been modernized, is more flexible, and provides a better experience for patients and staff.
As a result of the eye clinic’s small area, doctors, nurses, and patients were unable to get enough space to work.
The MEC expressed her excitement at being at the Odi District Hospital Eye Clinic, marking the beginning of a new era in health care in the community.
“This clinic represents the symbol of hope, compassion and promise of a brighter future. The journey that brought us here is filled with passion and determination to serve the community”, said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
She further said that the establishment of the Odi Eye Clinic is not only about diagnosing and treating eye conditions. It is about preventing needless suffering.
The newly renovated Eye clinic received donations from a programme called OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation According to Basetsana Maswanganyi, the programme manager of OneSight, they bought all the necessary equipment for Odi Hospital to be functional, and they will order spectacles once they are operational for six months.
The CEO of Odi District Hospital, Dr. Avhapfani Musie expressed his gratitude for the opening of the Eye clinic.
“I am quite excited about the opening of the newly opened clinic as it is served by the MEC. We only had one room to work in, but through the donation made by One Sight we had to create more rooms and we took one room from the dental unit to be part of the Eye clinic”, said Dr Musie.
He concluded by saying it is quite exciting that there will be a lot of services provided from now on. Each month, 60 patients will be seen, and they will operate for eight hours per day.
