Cape Town

Cataract Surgery Programme kicks off in KwaZulu-Natal

AMS is proud to be associated with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health and the Al-Imdaad Foundation. It has been more than two years in planning and preparation, but finally it has arrived. A three-month long cataract surgery programme brought about by a partnership between the Al-Imdaad Foundation, the KZN Department of Health, Air Mercy Services and volunteer doctors from Turkish NGO, Alliance of International Doctors (AID). The cataract programme is part of the Al-Imdaad Foundation's Vision-4-Life eye care initiative which also includes a free eye clinic, which has seen over 2000 patients in two years of operation.
On October 7th, 2019, the volunteer doctors were flown into the cataract programme briefing session at the Ladysmith Provincial Hospital by Air Mercy Personnel.
At the briefing, Al-Imdaad Foundation’s special projects coordinator, Mr Abed Karrim described the build up to the programme saying, “For two and a half years my team and I have been in and out of Pretoria to secure accreditation for the foreign doctors from the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA). We’ve had a lot of cooperation from Health Departments at all levels and finally the team is able to be here today”.
Mr Karrim went on to say that their mission was simple: “We are here to join hands to enable Vision-4-Life, this is the vision of the leadership of the Al-Imdaad Foundation- our Chairman Maulana Chohan and our trustees. They have said to us, go out there, work hand in hand with the Department of Health, work hand in hand for the community.”
Areas have been identified where there are significant backlogs of patients awaiting cataract surgeries. Public eye facilities at hospitals in Northern Natal will be used for the programme and local support staff and nurses will assist the Turkish team.
Dr T Zulu, an official from uThukela District Health described how the volunteer doctors would be greatly appreciated as some districts had significant backlogs due to a lack of personnel. Dr Zulu also said, “completing back-logs is not just about numbers. It is a quality of life issue and a human rights issue. If there is a two thousand backlog you know how you would feel if there’s a cataract and there are no operations until you are blind. So, we are very happy that we finally have these volunteers to assist us.”
The doctors from Alliance of International Doctors (AID) have had extensive experience conducting cataract surgeries in sub- Saharan Africa. The lead ophthalmic surgeon, Dr Mehmet Aslan previously spent eight months in Niger where he completed thousands of surgeries. During his three-month stay in South Africa, Dr Mehmet aims to make a significant impact on the backlogs.
Dr Mehmet said, “We were all excited to join. This project is quite prestigious for us. So, if we can accomplish this, I can assure you that there are many more volunteer doctors willing to come whenever you want. We are ready to perform the surgeries.”
After thanking all role players, Al-Imdaad Foundation CEO Yacoob Vahed also spoke encouraging words saying:
“I would like to thank everyone who made this significant project possible. Even though there has been a lot of negativity around our beautiful country recently, I believe by working together we can make a real difference. For us this is only the beginning, we hope to be able to bring in more volunteer doctors- both locals and from abroad, to help take this project to other parts of the country.”
The Al-Imdaad Foundation’s Vision-4-Life cataract programme will be running in the last quarter of 2019 with surgeries planned in the uThukela, iLembe and uMzinyathi districts of KwaZulu-Natal. For more information about the programme or to support these initiatives please call 0861786243.

Busy rescue weekend for Cape Town rescue crew

It's been a busy weekend for the Cape Town Western Cape Department of Health EMS/AMS rescue helicopter. 6 rescues took place over the busy weekend, rescues were conducted in Kirstenbosch, on Lions Head and Skeleton Gorge. Thank you to our rescue crew and partner organisations for your dedication. Well done Shukri Petersen on your first rescues as external load operator (elo). Thank you Dr. Matthew Young, Anwaaz Bent and all the individuals for sharing your photographs with us.

AMS Board of Trustees

As we reached the end of South Africa commemorating Women’s Month, The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service Trust (AMS) is proud to announce the addition of two female Board members to the Board of Trustees. Advocate Adila Hassim and Professor Lineo Mazwi-Tanga joins the diverse Board that provides leadership to the AMS for carrying out the organisation’s purpose to facilitate pluriversal access to healthcare to those rendered most vulnerable by geographical, social or economic inequity. “The AMS is excited to have the expertise of these two dynamic Board members with a broad range of business skills that will assist the organisation to continue to support the National Health System, by ensuring access to healthcare for all South Africans” said Dr Philip Erasmus, AMS CEO.

Advocate Adila Hassim holds numerous awards and is amongst others a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates and holds chambers at Thulamela Group of Advocates. Advocate Hassim co-founded SECTION27, a public interest law organisation that defends the rights of health, education and food. She served as its Director of Litigation until 2017. She is also a founding director of Corruption Watch and a Trustee of the Constitutional Hill Trust. She is a former law clerk to Deputy Chief Justice Pius Langa, as well as Justice Edwin Cameron.

Prof. Lineo Mazwi-Tanga was at the helm of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) for eight years and holds the title of CPUT’s first Rector and Vice-Chancellor. Her experience as an educationist began in the Eastern Cape, where she taught Mathematics, Physical Science and Biology at several high schools. An invitation to serve in the Ministry of Education as a Ministerial Advisor to Minister Kader Asmal, introduced Professor Mazwi-Tanga to systems in national higher education, something which served her well when she assumed the position of leadership of CPUT. Professor Mazwi-Tanga retired as Vice Chancellor in December 2013. She currently serves as one of the Advocates for Social Cohesion, Nation Building and Democracy that is driven through the Ministry of Arts and Culture.

The AMS Board of Trustees is steered by Chairman, Mr. Gideon Sam and comprises of Board Member, Adv. Adila Hassim, Prof. Lineo Mazwi-Tanga, Mr. René de Wet, Prof. Shepherd Mayatula, Mr. Geoffrey Qhena, Mr. Alan Marshall, Mr. Ray ka Msengana and Mr. Lwazi Mboyi. “We look forward to the insights under the leadership of our Board of Trustees with unique and diverse backgrounds and experiences that will make them an asset to the organisation in pursuing our mission to building a national asset for our country by ensuring that healthcare reaches all South Africans” Dr Philip Erasmus concluded.

Meet our team ...

Although he has only been with us officially since the beginning of July, today’s staff profile feature is not a new face to the AMS family. Nolan Naidoo’s journey with the AMS started way back when he volunteered for the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) and then later as one of the METRO volunteers working on a rotational basis at AMS. We are thrilled to have Nolan with us full time and hope that he will enjoy his time here. Here’s a look into his world …

Tell us about yourself: “I was born and bred in Cape Town and have been involved in the field of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for 18 years. I started volunteering for SARCS in the 1990’s and developed a passion for EMS and later joined the Western Cape Department of Health Emergency Medical Services as a volunteer. I completed the necessary courses in order to further myself and later started working for Netcare for six years. I moved back to the Western Cape Department of Health EMS, then started working at AMS on a rotational basis and fell in love with AMS. I volunteered at AMS for six years before I officially joined the team on a permanent basis in July this year.”

Were you in any other trade before? “No.”

If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? “Scuba diving.”

What do you do in your spare time? “Hiking.”

What might someone be surprised to know about you? “I love cooking, I am a coffee snob.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “The interaction with people.”

What is on your bedside table? “Only a lampshade.”

If you could have dinner with people from history, who would they be? “Bob Marley, Ghandi and my late grandfather.”

When your friends/family find out what you do, what do they say or ask? “Everyone is happy that I am off the road and in a safer environment.”

What has been the happiest day of your life? “The birth of my son.”

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? “Professional mountain biker.”

What is your greatest indulgence? “Coffee and chocolate.”

What is the one thing, you can’t live without? “Coffee.”

What is the one quality you feel best describes you? “Caring.”

Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? “You carry the consequences of the choices you make.”

Do you have a life philosophy? “Take things easy.”