In 2016, a group of registered surgeons in the private sector decided to launch a Mandela Day initiative to honour the legacy of former president Nelson Mandela, by operating on patients desperately awaiting surgery. The hope was that this small gesture would change the lives of a few people who primarily depend on the heavy burdened South African state hospitals for relief of pain and disability.
Since 2016, this initial one-week charity drive has expanded into a full-blown Non-Profit Company. In the past 7 years, 931 underprivileged patients have been given the opportunity to experience a new, fully functioning life thanks to the life-changing surgery they received. These surgeries empower patients to be absorbed back into the working market as contributors to our country’s economy.
The procedures performed are from various disciplines and includes, general orthopaedics, joint replacements, general surgery, urology, gynaecology, ENT, paediatric cardiology, ophthalmology and plastic surgery for skin cancer excisions.
During 2020, OHH was forced to adapt due to minimal funding and our primary health care projects were born. Our Women’s Health clinics helped 534 women with Pap smears, contraception and cancer treatment. OHH’s Eye care projects saw 197 patients screened and 131 pairs of glasses dispensed.
We are looking forward to making an even bigger difference in future.
OHH covers the expenses of the following medical services on behalf of the patients:
- Consultations and pre-operative procedures
- Surgeries (e.g. orthopaedics, otolaryngology, plastic and general surgery, ophthalmology, urology and dentistry)
- In-hospital treatments, X-rays and medication
- Post-operative follow-up, medication and treatment for a three month period
- Post-operative rehabilitation, including physiotherapy or prosthetics, if required
All the medical personnel involved, from the surgeons to the rehab teams, work pro bono while the private hospitals sponsor most of the theatre time and in-hospital stay. X-rays, blood work-up and other special investigations by respective service providers are also done for free while the prostheses such as hip and knee-replacements and other implants are sponsored by relevant medical companies.
Therefore the funds raised by OHH through grants and donations are used to cover consumables used, random medical expenses as well as the daily running of the project.
