Health Projects

Sight For You

Vodacom Sight For You provides cataract operations for elderly people, in particular during the annual Eye Care Awareness Week. A R2 million donation in 2006 from the Vodacom Foundation enabled cataract operations to be performed on at least 540 patients at the Pretoria Eye Institute and at Netcare Hospitals throughout the country. In December 2006, the 1000th cataract operation in the Vodacom/Netcare partnership was performed. During Eye Care Awareness Week in October 2007, 400 operations were performed at the Pretoria Eye Institute, while Vodacom's partnership with Netcare saw 155 operations being performed around the country, including 100 in Bloemfontein.

The South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB) is a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) striving to meet the needs of all blind and partially sighted people in South Africa. Services include rehabilitation, education and training, the provision of assistive devices, social and economic development and programmes promoting the prevention of blindness and the restoration of sight. Now in its 78th year of operation, the SANCB comprises a head office, nine provincial offices and 95 member organisations, which include workshops, self-help groups and 19 schools for blind and partially sighted learners - making it the largest NGO in South Africa. It is affiliated to several international organisations. The funding will be used for a community services project.

Smiles For You

The incidence of children born with some variation of cleft lip and palate is high and varies from between 1 in 600 to 1 in 1200 live births depending on the race. In the late 1990's, it became apparent that there were a large number of children on government hospital waiting lists requiring urgent operations for cleft lip and palate deformities. The Vodacom Foundation, in partnership with Netcare since when formed, has assisted with the funding required for the operations for children who are in need of corrective surgery.

The first Vodacom Smile Week at the end of October 2007 was organised by the Smile Foundation, and is the first of 2 that will be funded by the Vodacom Foundation during the 2007/08 financial year to a total of R2 million. The second Vodacom Smile Week will take place in May 2008. During each week, up to 40 children receive free world-class reconstructive surgery for facial anomalies such as cleft lip and/or palate or some form of facial paralysis, abnormality or injury, such as burns. The medical team is provided by the Johannesburg Hospital and its Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Wits Medical School.

Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa

On Valentine's Day 2008, the Vodacom Foundation announced a R4 million donation to enable 27 disadvantaged children to receive corrective heart surgery through the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (WSPCCA). To date, Vodacom Foundation has made surgery possible for an additional 28 children.

Today, according to the WSPCCA, almost all cardiac conditions in children can be corrected, or at least well palliated. Due to a lack of funding, however, only a small fraction of the children of Africa receive it. Based at the Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg, the WSPCCA is the largest paediatric cardiac unit in Africa and one of the finest in the world. Funds made available from the Trust enable members of the surgical and medical teams to perform life saving heart operations on babies and children from South Africa and Africa whose families are unable to pay for this surgery.

Amputee Club

Ten South Africans will receive the gift of mobility when they are fitted with prostheses by the Amputee Club of South Africa as a result of a donation of R530 000 from the Vodacom Foundation. The Club is a national self-funding organisation providing essential support functions for the benefit of amputees. The organisation also seeks to enforce the rights of amputees and empower people who have had amputations. Seven people from the Eastern Cape were the first recipients of new prostheses in January 2008.

Cell-Life

Cell-Life is a pioneering initiative that provides effective technology-based solutions for the management of HIV/Aids. Since 2002, Vodacom Foundation has invested more than R6.2million in the project. According to Cell-Life more than 80% of South Africans rely on the public health system for their medical requirements. However, state-sector health facilities are under pressure to meet all the needs. More than 90% of South Africa is covered by cellular networks, and with a significant number of South Africans using cellular phones, Cell-Life's solutions can close the information gap.

The system developed allows data to be captured in a user-friendly way through a cellphone. Cell-Life's solutions cover prevention, treatment, dispensing of Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) and Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). Over recent years Cell-Life's core focus has been on ART dispensing and treatment monitoring.

Drug awareness campaign

With the increasing drug abuse and addiction within the Western Region of SA and South Africa the Local Government and the City of Cape Town needs assistance with the rehabilitation and education of young people in particular. The Vodacom Foundation contribution is being used for:

		Educational booklets
		Equipping 2 out-patient Centres in Mitchell's Plain and Tableview with office essentials and drug testing supplies of an individual for the 16 weeks of rehabilitation - 1000 individuals - uo to date.
		Training two therapists at the Red Cross Children's Hospital and supplying office equipment;
		Testing an individual for the 16 weeks of rehabilitation - 500 teenagers
		Drug awareness events at 80 affected schools in the Western Region.
		Building sports facility at Steven Reagal Sports grounds in Mitchell's Plain.

Surgikids

Together with the Johannesburg Hospital, Ward 32 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital offers the only care available to indigent children with diverse serious medical conditions. Vodacom Foundation has provided R1,6 million for renovations to existing building, including facade, internal divisions, floor finishes, internal wall finishes, ceilings, furniture and fittings, electrical, plumbing and gas installations to Paediatric Surgery Ward 32 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.