Private-Public Partnership to restore sight and prevent avoidable blindness
In South Africa, cataracts are a major cause of avoidable blindness, affecting over 370,000 people. Hot Cares and Ecomed Medical, have partnered with the Johannesburg Eye Hospital to change the lives of 140 people, as part of World Sight Day (10 October). This in an effort to highlight healthcare inequalities and make a tangible difference in people’s lives
HOT Cares and Ecomed will be covering the cost of 280 life-changing cataract surgeries and helping restore the sight of these patients who desperately need medical intervention. Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness, significantly impacting individuals’ lives by delaying motor development in children and leading to job loss and diminished quality of life for adults. Many individuals suffer due to a lack of medical aid or funds, which affects their families and communities – making this an important issue for HOT Cares.
The partnership is one established off the shared principle to “provide innovative healthcare solutions to improve quality of life”, and transform lives, meaningfully.
“Restoring sight through cataract surgery transforms lives and this fits very much with the Hot Cares goal of making a meaningful difference to the lives of those around us,” said Lloyd Madurai, Managing Director of HOT Cares. “We can’t thank our long-standing partners Ecomed enough and by supporting these cataract surgeries, it’s an opportunity for HOT 102.7FM to highlight healthcare inequalities and empower individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to regain their vision, independence, and quality of life.”
Hot Cares receives numerous requests for cataract surgeries and has supported many life-changing procedures, including those for young beneficiaries. The public healthcare system in South Africa faces immense pressure, with long waiting lists for surgeries, and for those without medical aid, the cost of private care is often prohibitive, creating a situation where access to sight is determined by wealth rather than choice.
Credit, therefore, must go to the Johannesburg Eye Hospital for driving this initiative, in celebration of World Sight Day, and identifying the opportunity for HOT Cares and Ecomed to play a role in ensuring these cataract surgeries can transform the lives of the patients in question.
“By partnering with us, HOT Cares and Ecomed are not only bringing light to those affected by cataracts, but also demonstrating their commitment to corporate social responsibility and community well-being,” said Elize Lombard, Chairperson of the Right to Sight Committee at the Johannesburg Eye Hospital. “We believe that everyone deserves the gift of clear vision, so thank you for collaborating with us on this noble cause.”
Hot Cares is a non-profit company that dedicates its efforts to providing much-needed assistance to those who find themselves in difficult circumstances, with a focus on four key areas: humanitarian and welfare, medical, educational, and animal welfare. It will soon host its annual Teddython fundraiser at Papachinos in Broadacres in Johannesburg, on the 1st of November.
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