Page 13 - Business Sense 11.1 (Virosha Pillay)- eBook

UKZN OPTOMETRY EXPANDS

COMMUNITY REACH

Melissa Mungroo, Operations Manager, practices in rural areas of
Corporate Relations, UKZN Foundation KwaZulu-Natal. Graduates will
receive practice management
training and, ultimately,
KZN’s Discipline of ownership of the practice – at no
Optometry’s Clinic has cost to them. This programme has
Ureceived a generous already been launched in other
donation of optical equipment African countries, and UKZN
and resources from OneSight Optometry is proud to be part of
EssilorLuxottica Foundation. its expansion into South Africa.
This was facilitated by academic
leader and Optometry lecturer The partnership is timely,
Dr Naimah Ebrahim Khan coinciding with a series of events
and the UKZN Foundation. held in celebration of World Sight
This will allow the Optometry Day 2024. Throughout October,
Clinic to bring affordable, high- UKZN Optometry participated
quality eye care to underserved in multiple outreach efforts,
communities and enhance including vision screening in
students’ practical training. Newcastle, where 267 patients
were seen, and screenings were
OneSight EssilorLuxottica held at UKZN’s Westville campus
Foundation, one of the leading and Port Shepstone.
optical groups globally, recognised The Clinic’s Optical Dispenser Ms Ziyanda Gali (right) and Optometry student Mr Akieel Devraj (left) gain hands-on
the valuable work being done by experience with donated eye care equipment. (Photographer: Sethu Dlamini) As UKZN Optometry continues
UKZN Optometry. “A few years to grow its services, the support
ago, OneSight included students patients cannot afford optical The donated trial sets will allow With cost-effective spectacles from OneSight EssilorLuxottica
in their outreach efforts,” said devices. This donation will students to practice clinical now available, the clinic anticipates Foundation will ensure that both
Ebrahim Khan. “They saw the ensure that the price point is procedures without this financial an increase in patient numbers the community and students
impact we were having in our significantly reduced, making burden, ensuring that all students, over the coming months. The thrive. “This partnership
community and decided to assist.” vision care more accessible,” regardless of their financial clinic has already begun spreading strengthens the incredible work
explained Ebrahim Khan. background, have the tools they the word about these affordable that UKZN Optometry does, often
This collaboration was not need to succeed. services through local newspapers, with limited resources. It’s about
only a response to community OneSight EssilorLuxottica UKZN’s internal communications helping them reach more people
needs but also a recognition of Foundation’s commitment The hands-on experience and referrals from public hospitals. and improving the lives of those
the resource challenges faced by extends beyond just donations. gained at the clinic is invaluable in need,” said Ms Lameez Eksteen,
UKZN Optometry. The donation For the first three months, the to students’ professional UKZN Optometry and OneSight country manager for the OneSight
includes frames, lenses, trial company will handle all lab scripts, development. “Students serve a EssilorLuxottica Foundation are EssilorLuxottica Foundation in
sets and click checks, which will providing customised lenses for minimum number of hours in the exploring future collaborations, South Africa. 
significantly enhance the clinic’s patients. From simple distance clinic, supervised by registered including the continuation of
services. For many patients who correction glasses to multifocal optometrists. This training forms reduced rates for spectacles. One T:: +27 31 260 2389
have struggled to afford optical lenses, there are no restrictions the core of their professional particularly exciting venture E: mungroo@ukzn.ac.za
devices, the donation will reduce on the types of glasses that will be growth,” said Ebrahim Khan. is the ‘Vula Amehlo’ initiative, W: www.foundation.ukzn.ac.za
costs and expand access to provided during this period. “This The UKZN Optometry Clinic which aims to establish optometry
essential vision care. generosity allows us to meet the has been a cornerstone of the
full spectrum of vision needs, from
One of the key components of distance to near and intermediate University’s health services for 35
the partnership is the provision vision,” added Ebrahim Khan. years, offering vision care to the
of 500 frames and lenses, public and contributing to the
allowing UKZN to offer more In addition to enhancing patient training of future optometrists.
affordable spectacles. The variety care, the donation is a game- This partnership will enhance the
of frames ensures suitability changer for UKZN’s optometry clinic’s outreach efforts, allowing
for the diverse range of patients students. A complete set of it to serve more patients at a faster
visiting the clinic, which serves optometry equipment can cost rate through the use of click
both the general public and upwards of R30 000, and many checks, which streamline vision
UKZN staff and students. “Many students struggle to afford it. screening processes.

OVER A R1 MILLION IN FUNDS RAISED FOR CHARITY

hen Joanne Barnard Challenge at Midmar Dam, As for the next challenge,
embarked on ahead of the main races which 55-year-old Barnard added: “Now
Wswimming the aQuellé took place over the weekend. that I’ve got to a million, I said to
Midmar Mile for a good cause “It’s just the difference that my husband: ‘OK, before 60 we
12 years ago she set herself the it’s making in these children’s have to get to two [million].’
target of raising R1 million for lives, it’s an emotional thing I Among those completing this
cancer charity CHOC. must say,” explained the Cape year’s 8-Mile Challenge were
The incredible amount of Town swimmer. “I get to do the fellow Olympic medallist Terence
R217,000 she managed to fun part; I get to swim and I Parkin and aQuellé Midmar Mile
add this year as the event’s get to be in the water… it is race director Wayne Riddin, who
top fundraiser has seen her just such a blessing. was swimming in memory of
surpassing that mark in 2025 “If we can make a difference his brother, his best friend, and
and setting her sights on the by getting in there, raising several other Midmar stalwarts Happy Bundles, with Reino minutes and 43 seconds over
next target. the money, it’s such a pleasure who have recently passed away. von Wielligh proving to be the two days. 
Barnard was one of almost and honour to be part of it. A total of 12 swimmers the fastest of them, finishing
300 swimmers who took place Really, it goes so deep, it’s completed the gruelling 16- his races in an impressive For more information visit
in the 8 and 16-Mile Charity wonderful.” Mile Challenge in support of combined time of five hours 54 www.midmarmile.com

13