According to The World Health Organization (WHO), cataract surgeries are amongst the most cost-effective health interventions, yet cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in Africa with WHO claiming that by 2050, there could be 115 million people who are cataract blind.

It is estimated that in South Africa there could be around a quarter of a million people who are blind or partially blind due to untreated cataracts as a result of the backlog.

In response to this,  global eyecare company Alcon  has launched  its Phaco Development Program in South Africa, and will ultimately launch on a Pan-African level as well.

For more on this issue, Jan Landman, Country Manager at Alcon South Africa spoke to Lulu Gaboo...

According to The World Health Organization (WHO), cataract surgeries are amongst the most cost-effective health interventions, yet cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in Africa with WHO claiming that by 2050, there could be 115 million people who are cataract blind.
It is estimated that in South Africa there could be around a quarter of a million people who are blind or partially blind due to untreated cataracts as a result of the backlog.
In response to this,  global eyecare company Alcon  has launched  its Phaco Development Program in South Africa, and will ultimately launch on a Pan-African level as well.
For more on this issue, Jan Landman, Country Manager at Alcon South Africa spoke to Lulu Gaboo...

Fast-paced news and current affairs updates, dealing with topical issues & breaking stories.

Fast-paced news and current affairs updates, dealing with topical issues &amp; breaking stories.

Africa Update

Global eyecare company Alcon  has launched  its Phaco Development Program in South Africa

Demonstrations have erupted across the world in the wake of US–Israeli strikes on Iran, with some condemning the attacks and others rallying in support. At least 550 people have been killed in Iran since the beginning of the strikes, which also resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday.


Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says Hezbollah chief Naim Kassem is now a target for elimination after Hezbollah fired at Israel in retaliation for Khamenei’s killing. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, says the country remains open to talks.


Meanwhile, the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has urged travellers scheduled to depart from South African airports to the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates not to proceed to airport precincts until they have confirmed their flight status directly with their airlines. The disruption has affected many travellers, including South Africans currently in, or based in, the Middle East.
South Africans caught up in the bombings carried out by Iran in Bahrain and Dubai say they are fearing for their lives and hope to return home safely once the situation allows.


Lulu Gaboo spoke to Yathin Soni, Managing Director of North Star, and Amir Bagherioromi, a South African–Iranian Independent Political Analyst and Writer focusing on Iran, the Middle East and global power dynamics.

Demonstrations have erupted across the world in the wake of US&ndash;Israeli strikes on Iran, with some condemning the attacks and others rallying in support. At least 550 people have been killed in Iran since the beginning of the strikes, which also resulted in the death of Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday.
 Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says Hezbollah chief Naim Kassem is now a target for elimination after Hezbollah fired at Israel in retaliation for Khamenei&rsquo;s killing. Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, says the country remains open to talks.
 Meanwhile, the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has urged travellers scheduled to depart from South African airports to the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates not to proceed to airport precincts until they have confirmed their flight status directly with their airlines. The disruption has affected many travellers, including South Africans currently in, or based in, the Middle East. South Africans caught up in the bombings carried out by Iran in Bahrain and Dubai say they are fearing for their lives and hope to return home safely once the situation allows.
 Lulu Gaboo spoke to Yathin Soni, Managing Director of North Star, and Amir Bagherioromi, a South African&ndash;Iranian Independent Political Analyst and Writer focusing on Iran, the Middle East and global power dynamics.

Strikes continue in the Middle East following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader

South African Cabinet has joined President Cyril Ramaphosa in expressing gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for facilitating the return of Seventeen South African men, who were recruited to fight on the Russian frontlines in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The South African government, working closely with Russian authorities, secured the safe return of the men, aged between Twenty and Thirty-nine, after distress calls were received from them seeking assistance to come home.

Channel Africa's reporter Micheal Mbewe filed this report.

South African Cabinet has joined President Cyril Ramaphosa in expressing gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for facilitating the return of Seventeen South African men, who were recruited to fight on the Russian frontlines in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The South African government, working closely with Russian authorities, secured the safe return of the men, aged between Twenty and Thirty-nine, after distress calls were received from them seeking assistance to come home.
Channel Africa's reporter Micheal Mbewe filed this report.

SA expresses gratitude to Russia's president for assisting men to return home from Russia

Police in Kenya have charged a recruitment agent, accused of tricking young men with promises of jobs in Russia, only for some to end up fighting in Ukraine. Festus Arasa Omwamba, head of Global Faces Human Resources, allegedly recruited 22 Kenyans through deception. They were rescued near Nairobi before travelling, but three others had already gone and later returned home injured.

 He has pleaded not guilty. A recent intelligence report estimates that around 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia's war in Ukraine, with lawmakers warning of trafficking networks and possible collusion by rogue officials.

Lulu Gaboo spoke to our correspondent in Kenya, Alex Kiarrie.

Police in Kenya have charged a recruitment agent, accused of tricking young men with promises of jobs in Russia, only for some to end up fighting in Ukraine. Festus Arasa Omwamba, head of Global Faces Human Resources, allegedly recruited 22 Kenyans through deception. They were rescued near Nairobi before travelling, but three others had already gone and later returned home injured.
&nbsp;He has pleaded not guilty. A recent intelligence report estimates that around 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia's war in Ukraine, with lawmakers warning of trafficking networks and possible collusion by rogue officials.
Lulu Gaboo spoke to our correspondent in Kenya, Alex Kiarrie.

Global eyecare company Alcon has launched its Phaco Development Program in South Africa

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