Partnership enables cataract surgery for disadvantaged South Africans

“I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing an 88-year-old “gogo” to see again. My smile is now everlasting, as I can see my grandchildren and family clearly again.”

These were the heartfelt words of gratitude from Mrs Nomasontu Tsuari, who is one of the patients whose sight was restored through the Netcare Foundation’s Gift of Sight project.

Mrs Tsuari’s surgery was made possible by a donation by the Nedbank Foundation to the Gift of Sight project, which aims to provide disadvantaged South Africans with access to these vision-restoring procedures.

The Nedbank Foundation has supported the Gift of Sight project over the past three years with donations of over R400 000.

“Cataract blindness is the world’s leading cause of reversible blindness and it is critical that sufferers are able to access this life-changing surgery at the earliest opportunity,” said Peter Warrener, Group HR director at Netcare and trustee of the Netcare Foundation, at a special event held at Netcare’s head office in Sandton, Johannesburg, to thank the Nedbank Foundation for their support and to share in the success of their operations with some of the recipients.

“The Gift of Sight programme is most grateful to the Nedbank Foundation for this generous funding which has enabled a number of cataract operations for disadvantaged patients who would not otherwise have been able to afford it,” Warrener explained.

Speaking at the event, Thabile Zulu, portfolio manager of the Nedbank Foundation, said: “Our Foundation’s support of Gift of Sight, as well as other healthcare initiatives in South Africa, are a tangible expression of Nedbank’s stated purpose to use its expertise and resources to make a positive contribution to the development of our people and communities across the country.”

Warrener explained that although government had undertaken a substantial campaign to reduce cataract blindness in South Africa in recent years, thousands still suffer from the condition because waiting lists for the procedure are long and many people do not realise that cataract blindness is, in the majority of cases, completely reversible.

“A procedure undertaken by ophthalmic specialists removes the cataract, and surgically implants a special new artificial lens, which can completely restore the patient’s vision. The Netcare Foundation’s Gift of Sight initiative aims to assist public sector programmes to make this important operation more widely accessible to South Africans,” he added.

Zulu said that the Nedbank Foundation is touched that its contribution to Gift of Sight had assisted patients in need of cataract surgery, as the beneficiaries, most of whom are unemployed and disadvantaged would not have been able to afford it themselves.”

Untreated cataracts can potentially rob people of their independence, impair their dignity and often prevents them from even undertaking simple day-to-day tasks, such as cooking and reading, not to mention their very livelihoods in some cases.

“The Gift of Sight cataract surgery is performed at a number of Netcare hospitals, with many being undertaken as part of Netcare’s corporate social responsibility initiatives during Eye Care Awareness Month in September/October,” Warrener added.

“We have helped many people to realise their full potential or regain their quality of life, and are now looking to reach people in more remote areas of South Africa, as we continue to touch the lives of those individuals who are so often forgotten by society,” concludes Warrener.