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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness in the region, affecting an estimated 10,000 people, according to Hope for the Blind. Many of them lack access to specialised care because of financial and logistical barriers. Hope for the Blind in Modimolle aims to address this by offering free or affordable cataract surgeries. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hospital charges private patients the standard medical aid rate, and raises funds to help disadvantaged patients</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several patients recently had successful cataract removal procedures at the hospital. One of them, Mosima Mankana, who had been completely blind, regained sight for the first time in years. When the post-surgery eye patch was removed she was able to recognise faces, as well as details in the artworks at the hospital.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hope for the Blind’s efforts are supported by the First Light Project, a fundraising initiative that integrates art with the experience of restored vision. Through this project newly sighted patients are introduced to work by renowned South African artists, including William Kentridge and Nelson Makamo. The initiative also plans to generate funding for future surgeries.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more information or to support their work, visit </span><a href=\"https://hopefortheblind.org/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hope for the Blind</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <strong>DM</strong></span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657318\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552219-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1632\" /> <em>Sarah Tseka after the covering was removed following her cataract operation at the Hope for the Blind eye hospital in Modimolle, Limpopo, on 15 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657320\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552074-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1382\" /> <em>Mmapele Modiba reacts to a painting with internationally acclaimed artist Nelson Makamo after her eye surgery at Hope for the Blind on 28 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657322\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552211-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1500\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana before her cataract operation at Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657324\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552212-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1762\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana is helped to the recovery room after her operation on 14 March 2025 in Limpopo. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657325\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552213-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1539\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana in the recovery room after her cataract operation. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657326\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552214-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana views artwork in the First Light gallery at Hope for the Blind on 15 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657327\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552215-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1715\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana has her eyes tested after surgery. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657328\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552217-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1657\" /> <em>Sarah Tseka looks at an artwork after her eye patch was removed following surgery at Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657329\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552225-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1346\" /> <em>Cataract surgery in progress at the nonprofit Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657330\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552226-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1607\" /> <em>A patient is prepared for cataract surgery at Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2657331\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552230-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1663\" /> <em>Stephaans Dlamini reacts to being able to see after Takalani Khodobo removed bandages at Hope for the Blind on 15 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>.</p>",
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(Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657320\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657320\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552074-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1382\" /> <em>Mmapele Modiba reacts to a painting with internationally acclaimed artist Nelson Makamo after her eye surgery at Hope for the Blind on 28 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657322\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657322\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552211-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1500\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana before her cataract operation at Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657324\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657324\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552212-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1762\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana is helped to the recovery room after her operation on 14 March 2025 in Limpopo. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657325\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657325\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552213-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1539\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana in the recovery room after her cataract operation. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657326\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657326\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552214-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana views artwork in the First Light gallery at Hope for the Blind on 15 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657327\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657327\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552215-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1715\" /> <em>Mosima Mankana has her eyes tested after surgery. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657328\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657328\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552217-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1657\" /> <em>Sarah Tseka looks at an artwork after her eye patch was removed following surgery at Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657329\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657329\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552225-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1346\" /> <em>Cataract surgery in progress at the nonprofit Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657330\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657330\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552226-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1607\" /> <em>A patient is prepared for cataract surgery at Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2657331\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2657331\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ED_552230-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1663\" /> <em>Stephaans Dlamini reacts to being able to see after Takalani Khodobo removed bandages at Hope for the Blind on 15 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)</em>.[/caption]",
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"social_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness in the region, affecting an estimated 10,000 people, according to Hope for the Blind. Many of them lack access ",
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Sarah Tseka after the covering was removed following her cataract operation at the Hope for the Blind eye hospital in Modimolle, Limpopo, on 15 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
Mmapele Modiba reacts to a painting with internationally acclaimed artist Nelson Makamo after her eye surgery at Hope for the Blind on 28 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
Mosima Mankana before her cataract operation at Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
Mosima Mankana is helped to the recovery room after her operation on 14 March 2025 in Limpopo. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
Mosima Mankana in the recovery room after her cataract operation. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
Mosima Mankana views artwork in the First Light gallery at Hope for the Blind on 15 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
Mosima Mankana has her eyes tested after surgery. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
Sarah Tseka looks at an artwork after her eye patch was removed following surgery at Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
Cataract surgery in progress at the nonprofit Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
A patient is prepared for cataract surgery at Hope for the Blind on 14 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)
Stephaans Dlamini reacts to being able to see after Takalani Khodobo removed bandages at Hope for the Blind on 15 March 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius).