'Seeing is Believing' for 1 million South Africans

Durban, South Africa-One million people may have restored sight by 2010 in the province of KwaZulu Natal because of the recently launched project, "Seeing is Believing."

Launching the program at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Ethekwini on World Sight Day, it was announced by Neliswa Nkonyeni, the MEC for Health, that Standard Chartered Bank would award $1.28 million to Giving Sight to Africa, KZN.

Co-sponsors of the project include the International Centre for Eyecare Education and the Department of Health, KZN. The program will attempt to provide individuals across the community with eye-care services, such as eye screening, provision of spectacles, and onward referrals for more complicated conditions.

If the program proves successful in the province of KZN than it will be replicated in other provinces, and possibly shared as a best practice within other African countries.