Johannesburg, 11 Oct 2006
More than 500 elderly South Africans will have their failing eyesight restored free of charge during Eye Care Awareness Week (9-13 October) with the assistance of the Vodacom Foundation.
A R2-million donation from the Vodacom Foundation will enable cataract operations to be performed on at least 540 patients at the Pretoria Eye Institute and at Netcare Hospitals throughout the country. While the major focus will be on operations during Eye Care Awareness Week, both medical facilities will use part of the funding to do ongoing cataract operations throughout the year.
The Pretoria Eye Institute will operate on 400 patients through the week, while the Netcare Hospitals will remove the cataracts of 140 patients on International World Sight Day, 12 October and during the month of October.
Mthobi Tyamzashe, Chairman of the Vodacom Foundation, said: "Our contribution to these cataract operations is part of our commitment to improving the quality of life of the elderly members of our community. The mothers and fathers of our society have been our inspiration as we have grown up. Now we have an opportunity to thank them for their contribution by helping to restore their failing eyesight where this is possible."
Mr Tyamzashe added that Vodacom`s investment in corporate social responsibility is an expression of its passion to create a legacy of prosperity, sustainability and satisfaction among communities.
This project forms part of the health portfolio of the Vodacom Foundation, one of two major funding areas. The Foundation invests in health projects as Vodacom believes that every South African has a right to basic health care facilities, and the company is committed to helping government address the health challenges that face South Africa.
Cataract surgery not only restores the sight of patients; it also allows for them to become fully functioning members of their families, their communities and society as a whole. It provides some of the patients with the ability to continue their employment which would otherwise have been at risk. It allows others to seek employment and to regain their independence and restores their dignity.
For many patients, it affords them the opportunity to once again see their family members, see for the first time what their grandchildren look like and ensure that small things such as making a cup of tea are no longer a huge risk to them due to their failing sight.
There is a worldwide backlog of cataract operations. In South Africa, the national backlog stands in excess of 160 000, and is growing at a rate of 10 000 per year, according to the Pretoria Eye Institute.
* Netcare Hospitals will undertake cataract operations on 140 people on World Sight Day (Thursday 12 October 2006) and during the month of October
* 20 operations will be performed at Kuilsrivier, Western Cape;
* 20 operations will be performed at Greenacres, Port Elizabeth;
* 20 operations will be performed at Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein (Note: this figure could be higher);
* 20 operations will be performed at St Augustine`s Hospital, Durban;
* 60 operations will be performed at Pretoria East Hospital on patients from Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces.
* In all cases, patients will be selected from the patient lists at provincial hospitals and from patients already on waiting lists as a result of media exposure.
* A further 14 operations will be performed at Optiklim Eye Hospital in Benoni on Friday 13th October.
* The criteria for eligibility for a cataract operation by Netcare Hospitals, with funding from Vodacom Foundation, are:
* An income of less than R2000 per month;
* SA citizenship;
* No medical aid;
* A need for cataract surgery.
Since February 2006, Netcare Hospitals have performed an additional 48 cataract operations with funding from Vodacom Foundation.
* Pretoria Eye Institute will perform 400 cataract operations throughout the Eye Care Awareness Week. The project is known as "Vodacom Sight 4 U in association with Pretoria Eye Institute."
* Patients will be drawn from waiting lists at government hospitals in Pretoria, Witbank and rural areas in Mpumalanga. Patients on the waiting list have already been screened for a means test.
* All patients have already been screened in advance of the Eye Care Awareness Week.
* Eight theatre lists will be scheduled every day during the week to enable 400 operations to be performed.
Share