Over 40 elderly patients’ eyesight restored at Pretoria Eye Institute
“I am so grateful to the hospital and the Sisulu family for their generosity. I cannot wait to take the eye-patch off.”
The elderly from local disadvantaged communities were jubilant to have their eyesight restored on Thursday.
As part of the Albertina Sisulu Centenary celebrations, the Pretoria Eye Institute (PEI) partnered with the Sisulu family to provide cataract surgery to those who most needed it.
The surgery which benefitted over 40 patients took place during Eye Care Awareness Month, October under the banner of the World Eyesight Project.
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The World Eyesight Project was formed to aid elderly people with poor eyesight and with little to no access to affordable medical care.
South African anti-apartheid activist, Sisulu was also a dedicated healthcare professional who distinguished herself as a committed health worker.
The partnership between the two parties will see more than 200 elderly patients with limited access to healthcare, receive the life-changing surgery.
The Pretoria Eye Institute spokesperson Maryke Lotz said they had participated in the World Eyesight Project since 2001.
“This year will mark the time they collaborate with the Sisulu family to deliver the operations to the needy.”
The Sisulu family spokesperson Duma Sisulu said the late struggle icon had a unique understanding of access to healthcare as a fundamental human right regardless of income.
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“The partnership with the Pretoria Eye Institute to deliver these eye operations is a direct reflection of her values in this regard, and we see this collaboration as an ideal legacy project to be associated with her name,” he said.
To date the Pretoria Eye Institute has operated on over 3 000 patients as part of the World Eyesight Project and anticipates growing this number as a result of the partnership with the Sisulu family.
“As the African continent’s first private eye hospital, The Pretoria Eye Institute is deeply honored to carry out these operations in MaSisulu’s name,” said Lotz.
“Our focus on delivering holistic care to our patients, with world-class technology, specialised equipment and specially trained staff, ensure that the patients are receiving the highest level of care. It is indeed a privilege to assist those in need, and contribute to MaSisulu’s legacy in this way.”
Eva Mhlongo, one of the patient’s who benefitted said she waited for five years because she could not afford to pay for the surgery herself as she was a pensioner.
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“It was such a long a long wait for me, when I received the call that I was booked for surgery, I was so happy. My first words to the Dr immediately after the surgery were ‘I can see’. When I went to hospital they kept turning me away,” said the overjoyed Gogo.
“I am so grateful to the hospital and the Sisulu family for their generosity. I cannot wait to take the eye-patch off.”
She also thanked everyone who was part of the progress.
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