RADIANCE FOUNDATION
About
Radiance Foundation was founded in 2014 and is based in Durbanville, Cape Town. Radiance is a registered NPO with the full support and accreditation of the Department of Health. In 2014 Dr Junet van der Merwe, a local ophthalmologist who worked at the world class Eerste River Hospital identified the huge need for cataract operations under the under privileged communities here in Cape Town and the foundation was born from there. The 15-minute cataract operation is often life-changing for patients and can improve their lives dramatically by moving them from disabled individuals (often totally blind) to seeing, economically viable individuals, that can once again become an asset to their local communities. Patients often wait up to two years in the system for an operation.
A cataract operation averages at R28 000 per eye if performed in a private hospital, which is out of reach of most underprivileged individuals and/or those without without the benefit of medical aid. The Radiance Foundation has put together a network of medical professionals who donate their time and expertise for these operations and this enables them to operate at a cost of R2800 per eye. The cost covers the consumables and theatre time only and operations take place by agreement on Saturdays at Eerste River Hospital. In terms of this agreement Radiance Foundation pay the staff and the consumables, in exchange for the use of the facilities and theatre. Through dr Junet van dr Merwe and her invaluable efforts to implement the agreement of cooperation with the Eersterivier Hospital Eye Clinic and the Department of Health of the Western Cape, Radiance have managed to successfully conduct 260 cataract surgeries and did over 180 screenings to date.
As the Saturday surgeries are cash intensive, there is a huge need to continue efforts to raise funds constantly in order to continue to provide sight to the blind and the visually impaired. Radiance Foundation is invested in continuing with the cooperation agreement with the Eerste River Eye Clinic and believe that they also appreciate the efforts to relieve the burden on the state by providing these important surgeries.
A cataract operation averages at R28 000 per eye if performed in a private hospital, which is out of reach of most underprivileged individuals and/or those without without the benefit of medical aid. The Radiance Foundation has put together a network of medical professionals who donate their time and expertise for these operations and this enables them to operate at a cost of R2800 per eye. The cost covers the consumables and theatre time only and operations take place by agreement on Saturdays at Eerste River Hospital. In terms of this agreement Radiance Foundation pay the staff and the consumables, in exchange for the use of the facilities and theatre. Through dr Junet van dr Merwe and her invaluable efforts to implement the agreement of cooperation with the Eersterivier Hospital Eye Clinic and the Department of Health of the Western Cape, Radiance have managed to successfully conduct 260 cataract surgeries and did over 180 screenings to date.
As the Saturday surgeries are cash intensive, there is a huge need to continue efforts to raise funds constantly in order to continue to provide sight to the blind and the visually impaired. Radiance Foundation is invested in continuing with the cooperation agreement with the Eerste River Eye Clinic and believe that they also appreciate the efforts to relieve the burden on the state by providing these important surgeries.
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