Through the benevolence of its donors, participating professionals and private health companies, the Foundation delivers private health care to its patients at no cost at all. The normal cost of the operation in private facilities is R20000. The Foundation has managed to effect a model that costs R2500 per operation, which is raised through donor funding.

The patient bears no cost at all. The Foundation ensures that its efforts reach the most needy of afflicted individuals and as such has recommended these simple criteria to restrict abuse of the service.

• Conditions serious enough to warrant treatment
• No other medical condition that would make the treatment a risk
• Must be registered on the State’s waiting list
• SA citizenship – either identity book or pension card
• No access to medical aid
• An income of less than R3000 per month

With astute management, both logistic and financial, the Foundation had proved the sustainability of its model and has been restoring eyesight to approximately 10 patients per month and has empowered more than 3000 cataract victims since its inception in October 2005.

Working closely with the Provincial Health Department’s Eye Clinics based at St. Aiden’s Hospital, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital and Addington Hospital, we have brought down the waiting lists in Durban to more manageable levels. However, with the increased need in rural communities, we have now extended our sphere of operations to include Matatiele and Kokstad.