14 Apr 2025

Poetavango community based organisation in partnership with Eyes on Africa company from United States of America and Opticals Botswana have been hailed for distributing 400 reading glasses and those that correct vision to community members in need.

The initiative was made possible through a donation by Eyes for Africa, which entered into a partnership with Poetavango to extend a helping hand to the community while Opticals Botswana conducted eye testing to ensure the glasses were the perfect fit for beneficiaries

Speaking during a community outreach event held at Nhabe Museum yesterday, North West District Council chairperson Mr Itumeleng Kelebetseng thanked the organisations for the gesture noting that the glasses would improve the vision of the beneficiaries and eventually improve their quality of life.

He said many people struggled with vision condition leaving close-up tasks difficult, and without access to affordable reading glasses their ability to carry out domestic errands, work and support their families would be affected.

“We really appreciate your efforts to bringing clear vision to some members of the community. I am impressed with the turn up as it is an indication that people are struggling with poor eye sight and cannot afford to buy reading glasses,” he added.

Mr Kelebetseng asked the beneficiaries to take good care of the gifts. He also sensitised the gathering about healthy living to improve overall well-being and prevent diseases, emphasising eating well and testing for non- communicable disease (NCDs). He underscored the importance of early detection and management, noting that some disease such as diabetes could damage eyes over time and cause vision loss.

On other issues, he decried disturbing incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) citing recent murders in Maun and urged members of the community to actively participate in efforts to fight GBV. Individuals, families and the community at large, he said, should take ownership of addressing and preventing violence against women and girls who are the majority of victims.

Poetavango chairperson, Mr Legodile Seganabeng appreciated the turn up of members of the community, saying it was an indication that they needed help. He thanked their partner, Eyes on Africa company for demonstrating a commitment to improving the quality of life through better vision.

“We are proud to facilitate this impactful initiative, reinforcing its dedication to community empowerment and going forward, we intend to extend our assistance to schools because we have realised that learners also experience eye problems,” he added.

He said poor eyesight could affect the pupils’ academic performance hence the need to visit schools and identify learners with visual challenges so that they could be assisted well on time. Mr Seganabeng also highlighted that the assistance was not the first of its kind citing that they once distributed more than 200 reading glasses in 2022 and their efforts were appreciated by the community.

Poetavango is a non- profit making organisation mandated to develop, promote the arts, literary and visual. As a community-based organisation, Poetavango supports the Maun community in various areas through a number of projects geared toward youth and artistic development. ENDS