The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Centre for Africa (WSPCCA) was the beneficiary of a R4 million donation from the Vodacom Foundation, on Valentine's Day.
The cellular giant donated the money for children who need corrective heart surgery.
"Their families are not able to afford this surgery and, without it, many of these children will not survive into adulthood," said Vodacom Foundation CEO Mthombi Tyamzashe.
Since the inception of paediatric cardiac surgery in the late 1950s and early 1960s, phenomenal growth has been witnessed in its development. Today, according to the WSPCCA, almost all cardiac conditions in children can be corrected, or at least well managed.
Due to a lack of funding, however, only a small fraction of the children in Africa who require corrective cardiac surgery receive it. Less than 20% of affected children in SA receive treatment, while only 1% of children in the rest of Africa who are in same position are able to access the needed surgery.
Based at the Sunninghill Hospital, in Johannesburg, the WSPCCA is the largest paediatric cardiac unit in Africa.
Related stories:
Vodacom ISP on track
Vodacom exec enters Tiger lair
Waspa defends Vodacom
Share