National-level outreach: South African Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness

Abstract

Introduction Early beginnings of the Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness The Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness was founded in 1944 as a division of the South African National Council for the Blind. From 1944 to 1952, the Bureau conducted countrywide surveys to determine the need for eye care services in our rural communities. Based on the information gathered, a mobile unit was established in 1952 with the help of the Order of St. John. This legacy has been built on over the decades and has evolved into a model which aims to increase access to eye care, particularly for disadvantaged township and rural people, while at the same time building the capacity and selfsufficiency of district level hospitals to provide eye care services within provincial health care services and budgets.

Keywords

• Health services accessibility
• Medically underserved area
• Eye diseases
• South Africa