Community eye care - Bonang
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Bongi Moeng
Executive Officer - Bonang
Tel: (011) 805 4517
Fax: (011) 805 3882
Email: bongi@repang.co.za
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How, why and when it was started?
Prior to the year 2000 a number of clinics, scattered around the country were instituted primarily on the basis of volunteerism and usually under the auspices of the SAOA and at times affiliated to an Association branch. Such clinics included:
- Pretoria Welfare Clinic situated in SANCB premises , White Street Pretoria
- Community Clinic held in church in Witbank
- Community Clinic – Durban Central
- Community Clinic , Yoeville , Johannesburg situated in the premises of Lions Operation Bright Sight
- W Cape SAOA branch clinic , situated at premises of supplier
The clinics were in the names of Individual optometrists. The clinics continued to be managed independently of each other by volunteer optometrists not without challenges including theft, Optometrists leaving, faulty equipment, declining patient numbers and staff problems in general.
Under these circumstances the SAOA was often requested to intervene, assist or advise .
Bonang Eye Care Inc was established in 2003 as an initiative of the South African Optometric association to function as an independent Incorporated Company with the aim of providing eye care services at a low cost to the economically compromised community members who do not have the support of a Medical aid.
The locations of newly established clinics were identified with the objective to compliment ophthalmology services in hospitals where optometry is not available in the form of public sector optometric posts.
Who it serves?
Our 9 centres serve economically compromised people not belonging to medical aid and with a house hold income of less than R3500. These people are from different communities such as NGOs, special schools, prisons and ordinary citizens.
Location of the clinics
The branches are at Tshwane District hospital, White Street, Johannesburg hospital, Witbank hospital, Durban City, Pine town; Karl Bremmer (CPT), Retreat Clinic (CPT) and Fishoek Hospital(CPT).
The mobile unit in Rustenburg was donated by Anglo Platinum in 2007 to render Eye Care Services to the economically compromised communities of Rustenburg and has serviced over 2100 patients to date.
Statistics
Our 9 centres serve approximately 850 people a week.
Directors
Sanjay Singh (Chairperson)
Executive Officer for all 9 Centres
Bongi Moeng (Executive Officer)
Staff
41 Dedicated Staff Members consisting of Optometrists and Optometric Assistants
