This October, residents of Marlboro, Alexandra, and surrounding areas are receiving a new outlook on life through a vital community health initiative. In celebration of World Sight Month, a temporary healthcare centre at the Gautrain Marlboro Station is providing free eye tests every weekend, offering a lifeline to those for whom such services are often out of reach.
The impactful programme is a collaboration between the Gauteng Department of Health, the African Eye Institute, and the University of Johannesburg, bringing essential eye care directly into the community.
The facility has been specifically set up to provide essential eye tests and prescription glasses, ensuring that those in need can improve their vision without barriers. A spokesperson for the initiative explained its targeted purpose: “We were looking for something that would raise awareness for preventable blindness in South Africa in particular. Once we approached Gautrain to become a partner with us, we identified the site of Marlboro… specifically because we were targeting the elderly people from Alexandra Township.”
The spokesperson noted that the service predominantly assists elderly residents and highlighted its broader impact, stating, “Sometimes transport is not about getting into a train. Sometimes transport is about making sure that people have an eye test that is able to help them get a driver’s license and other things that open doors for them.”
The initiative has already yielded significant results. To date, the community healthcare drive has tested the eyes of 722 people, provided 425 pairs of spectacles, and assisted 231 individuals who needed their lenses cut and fitted.
According to the African Eye Institute, the screenings have revealed a critical need for such services, with about 90% of those screened requiring some form of medical intervention.
For recipients, the difference is profound. “To have this opportunity of getting glasses because we can’t afford it. Sometimes we are not all have money so we are so happy. May God bless them,” said one grateful community member. Another resident shared, “I decided you know what I need to get out because my eyes are also giving me problems because of the blood pressure.”
The future optometrists from the University of Johannesburg, who are conducting the screenings, describe deeply emotional reactions from patients. “You get to see the smile on the patients’ faces. You get to see how grateful they are and some of them they even cry… because of like it’s the first time seeing perfectly,” one student shared.
A project spokesperson emphasized the life-changing effect, noting, “Their eyes are very important. So it’s amazing to see them when they realize that all this time they haven’t been seeing as they are supposed to see. So it really improves their lifestyle and their lives.”
The temporary health facility at the Marlboro Gautrain Station will remain open until the end of October. Members of the public are encouraged to visit for free eye tests, as well as HIV testing and blood pressure screenings.