Al-Qalam 
By Azra Hoosen
Eight elderly patients between the ages of 50 and 62 were given the gift of sight on Mandela Day, thanks to a collaboration between Ahmed Al-Kadi Private Hospital (AAK) and the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMASA). The surgeries formed part of the Mission Cataract Project, in partnership with IMASA’s long-running Gift of Sight initiative.
The procedures were carried out by Resident Ophthalmologist Dr Bashir Laheu, anaesthesiologist Dr MFR Khan from The Sleep Doctors and the dedicated AAK Theatre and Surgical Ward teams.
Dr Laheu told Al-Qalam that performing these surgeries on Mandela Day was deeply symbolic. “Each procedure reminded me that healthcare is a powerful way to serve humanity. It wasn’t just about medical skill; it was about dignity, hope and doing our part to make the world better, just as Mandela urged us to do,” he said.
For Dr Laheu, the real impact of the day was visible in the patients’ reactions. “There’s this moment of hesitation, like they’re not quite sure they can trust what they’re seeing. Then suddenly, their faces light up, sometimes with tears, sometimes with laughter,” he said.
He recalled that one patient looked at his wife and whispered, ‘I can see you again.’ Another patient stared out the window, watching the trees sway. “For them, it’s getting their life back. Witnessing that transformation stays with you forever,” said Laheu.
IMASA’s Gift of Sight programme has been operating in Durban for several years, offering eye care to patients who cannot afford private services. According to Yasiera Mahomed-Suliman, the programme’s coordinator and chairperson of the IMA-Durban branch, the cataract component was introduced in response to growing challenges. “Our organisation runs three optometry clinics in Durban. While we offer exams, spectacles and treatment, cataracts have remained a major challenge due to long waiting periods at government hospitals, sometimes over two years,” she explained.
The partnership with AAK Hospital helped change that. “Patients eligible for the cataract programme are mainly from IMA-Durban’s primary clinics’ database. These are people who could never afford private eye care. By partnering with AAK, we are able to reduce their waiting time from years to a month or two,” added Yasiera.
AAK CEO Ebrahim Asmal told Al-Qalam that the project aligns with the hospital’s vision of delivering private care with a public impact. “We believe in honouring Mandela Day not just through symbolic gestures, but by making a real and meaningful impact. By restoring sight, we restore dignity, independence and opportunity, values that Madiba himself championed,” he said.
The programme also reflects AAK’s belief that quality healthcare should not be reserved for the few. “Private institutions have both the responsibility and the capacity to create access and equity in our communities,” said Asmal.
For many patients, regaining their vision means more than just medical improvement. “Sight restoration brings hope, empowerment and a renewed sense of purpose, enabling them to live fuller, more meaningful lives,” said Yasiera.
Cataract blindness remains one of the most common causes of preventable visual impairment in South Africa. Dr Laheu highlighted that the challenges are often systemic, not just financial. “In rural and disadvantaged communities, access is limited by long waiting lists, low awareness, and a lack of resources, which is why initiatives like this are so important,” he said.
Dr Laheu said that it is a privilege to be part of a project with such lasting impact. “You’re not just fixing a lens. You’re giving people the chance to live again. I’m deeply grateful to IMASA and AAK for the opportunity to serve,” he added.
Asmal confirmed that AAK plans to continue and expand the programme. “Together with IMASA, we’re exploring ways to expand both the number of surgeries and the areas we reach. Our goal is to turn this into a long-term programme that helps reduce the cataract backlog and restores hope, one patient at a time,” he said
