A Nelson Mandela Day Cataract Marathon at Leratong Hospital has restored sight through 78 free cataract operations performed over three days, offering renewed independence and hope to people living with cataract-related blindness.
The initiative brought together ophthalmologists, nurses and support staff as part of an ongoing monthly cataract programme aimed at reducing Gauteng’s growing surgical backlog.
Supported by AWQAF SA, the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMASA), the Islamic Careline Society of Africa (ICSA) and several donors, the campaign coincided with Nelson Mandela Day, reflecting Madiba’s legacy of service while highlighting the continued role of Muslim charitable organisations in strengthening South Africa’s public healthcare system.
For many beneficiaries, the impact of the surgery was immediate.
One patient expressed heartfelt gratitude to the medical team.
“I am so glad because we have the doctors and they care for us. From all of us who they have done this for, we say thank you. Leratong is the best. The doctors say they are trying, but they are not trying — they are the best and they are doing their best.
“Now I can see everything. At times, I would see a spider and when I reached out, there was nothing there, but now I can see.”
Speaking during the marathon, Head of Ophthalmology at Leratong Hospital Dr Raman Abdullah reflected on the progress made at that stage of the initiative.
“We are celebrating completing 68 cataract operations for our Nelson Mandela cataract marathon. It was a very long week and there are a lot of people in need, but Alhamdulillah, we managed to treat many patients and restore their sight.”
Dr Abdullah said the demand for cataract surgery in the West Rand remains overwhelming.
“We serve an area in the West Rand with over a million people, and there are currently more than 200,000 people waiting for cataract surgery. A project like this, which runs every single month and is able to restore vision to people suffering from cataract blindness, is absolutely invaluable.”
She also thanked the donors and partner organisations whose continued support allows the programme to restore patients’ sight every month.
Over the past decade, the Cataract Project has performed more than 8,000 free cataract operations, restoring vision to thousands of South Africans who might otherwise have remained on lengthy public healthcare waiting lists.
Hafiz Nadeem Ahmed, manager of the Cataract Project, said the initiative continues to transform lives and bring hope to patients and their families.
“It was a wonderful and heart-warming day for the cataract patients, who were extremely happy to regain vision in the operated eye. The patients were thankful to the Cataract Project and prayed for everyone involved in this noble cause.”
Ahmed thanked the project’s sponsoring partners, including AWQAF SA, the Caring Women Forum, the Haroon Tayob Family, Bliss Chemicals, Sultan Bahu and numerous individual donors whose generosity continues to sustain the initiative.
He said cataract services at Leratong Hospital have returned to normal following the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Nelson Mandela Day Cataract Marathon helping to reduce waiting times for patients. However, he cautioned that surgical backlogs remain severe across many state hospitals.
“The surgery backlog is very high in almost all state hospitals because elective surgeries were postponed during Covid. The burden is very high. There should be special camps, like the Cataract Project, where hospitals can use weekends to perform as many catch-up operations as possible.”
Ahmed added that AWQAF SA has proudly supported the project since 2005 and paid tribute to its founder.
“AWQAF SA is extremely pleased to have been part of this project since 2005. Dr Shabier Husain and his team have been doing extraordinary work through this initiative, serving the poor and needy and giving them a new life with restored vision.”
Founded by Dr Shabier Husain, the Cataract Project has become one of South Africa’s leading sight-restoration initiatives.
The latest Nelson Mandela Day Cataract Marathon concluded with 78 free operations completed over three days, demonstrating how partnerships between public hospitals, healthcare professionals and Muslim charitable organisations can restore vision, dignity and independence while helping to reduce South Africa’s growing cataract surgery backlog.
