The Professional Women, Women Executives and Business Women’s Forum (PROWEB) and the Elena Barraquer Foundation has partnered with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces through the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs in the Cabinet of Zimbabwe Cde Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, to operate on cataracts.
Addressing journalists in Harare on 18 September 2019, Florence Ziumbe, the PROWEB Founding Member and Trustee said the initiative was a community service that the women were bringing to society.
“The first project will be running at Chitungwiza Central Hospital. This free eye cataract mission, supported by a team of doctors from Spain, has teamed with our own top ophthalmologists from Zimbabwe to execute this noble task. It is an absolute requirement that the patient is first screened to confirm that they have a cataract/s. This will take place ONLY at Chitungwiza Central Hospital on the 21st September and 22nd September 2019,” the PROWEB Trustee said.
There will also be screening done on the same dates at Kunaka Rural Hospital in Seke; at Mahusekwa District Hospital in Chihota and another one at Marondera Hospital in Marondera. Operations for eye surgery will take place at Chitungwiza Central Hospital from the 23rd September 2019 to the 28th September 2019.
“If you leave far from the stated venues you may want to use an ophthalmic nurse at your local clinic to confirm the cataract/s before seeking admission at Chitungwiza Central Hospital. Once that is done the patient will be booked for admission at Chitungwiza Central Hospital. The patient can bring a relative who will be offered accommodation and food so that they have someone to accompany them after the surgery,” said Rudo Mudavanhu, the PROWEB Chairperson of Special Projects.
Her Deputy, Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu weighed in and said emphasised the need for one to get screened to confirm the cataract; book the admission date; and appear without fail on the date of admission.
Among local companies supporting this initiative are communications giant Africom; TelOne; CBZ Holdings; Econet; Cairns; Telecel and First Mutual just to mention a few.
One of the other PROWEB Trustees, Sithabile Mangwengwende reiterated that there are no charges for screening and the operations.
“All examination fees, surgery fees and drugs are all free, thanks to the generosity of the P Elena Barraquer Foundation. The pickup points are Kunaka Rural Hospital in Seke; Mahusekwa District Hospital in Chihota and the Marondera Hospital in Marondera. The activities will commence on Monday 23 September 2019 at 7am.
“Bring your loved ones for absolutely free treatment. For More Information Contact: 0772 83 99 23, 0772 215 391, 0776 953 325,” Mangwengwende added.