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By Lebone Rodah Mosima
In the hills and villages of KwaZulu-Natal, where access to specialised healthcare is scarce, a new sight-saving project is about to roll into action.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has taken delivery of a state-of-the-art mobile eye clinic worth more than R2.1 million, an initiative that promises to transform eye-care for some of the province’s most vulnerable communities.
The vehicle was donated by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) to the UKZN Foundation. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the clinic will allow UKZN’s Discipline of Optometry to carry out eye screenings, comprehensive examinations and issue corrective eyewear on-site.
Inside, the clinic resembles a compact but sophisticated eye-care centre that can be used for adults and paediatric patients. It houses an autorefractor to estimate glasses prescriptions, a handheld slit lamp to inspect the front of the eye, and an ocular fundus camera to capture images of the back of the eye, helping to detect hidden conditions. The unit also contains instruments to assess contrast sensitivity, depth perception and intraocular pressure.
For the SAMCT, the donation is about equity and opportunity. Gaff Osman, chairman and trustee of the organisation, said: “By supporting this initiative, we aim to help bridge the gap in access to quality eye-care services in rural communities across the province. At the same time, this project will offer invaluable hands-on training for UKZN’s optometry students, allowing them to integrate academic learning with practical service, while making a real difference in disadvantaged areas.”
That training component is particularly important to Dr Naimah Ebrahim Khan, head of UKZN’s discipline of optometry, who received the keys to the mobile unit during World Sight Month. “During World Sight month, it is so important to raise awareness of the high rate of preventable blindness which is barrier to a huge portion of our population from living a good quality of life,” she said.
“We are deeply thankful for this generous donation. The mobile eye clinic represents more than just equipment. It is a lifeline for communities with little or no access to eye-care and an invaluable training ground for our students ensuring that they graduate as competent, compassionate practitioners ready to serve society.”
For Shabir Chohan, Chief Executive Officer of Al Baraka Bank and trustee of the SAMCT, the project resonates personally. “We are delighted to play a role in something that is so beneficial to the community. As an alumnus of UKZN, having trained some 40 years ago, all education projects such as this wonderful initiative, is very important. Alumni of UKZN have a meaningful role to play in advancing education. Congratulations to Naimah for initiating this project,” he said.
Osman said that SAMCT was formed in 2008 and since then has been supporting sizeable projects throughout South Africa, aimed at improving public healthcare access and supporting educational advancement.
Professor Khathutshelo Percy Mashige, dean of the School of Health Sciences, said the project dovetails with the university’s mission to uplift disadvantaged communities. “In the CHS, we target students from vulnerable communities in KZN, especially those from Quintile 1-3 schools. This mobile clinic will go a long way in our pursuit to support our disadvantaged communities in the province. We believe that this is the beginning of a long-lasting friendship based on mutual objectives on the side of UKZN and the SAMCT,” he said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
