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World Sight Day: South Africa’s first black female Ophthalmologist at UCT In honour of World Sight Day, we celebrated the work of Dr Tshilidzi van der Lecq, a paediatric ophthalmologist whose research into Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is reshaping infant eye health in South Africa. ROP is a potentially blinding condition affecting premature infants. Dr van der Lecq’s journey began in Thohoyandou, Venda, and has taken her across continents and disciplines. “I wasn’t one of those kids who grew up knowing I wanted to be a doctor,” she says. But a University of Cape Town (UCT) roadshow sparked her interest, and she applied to study medicine with no second option. During her internship at Baragwanath Hospital, she met Professor Aubrey Mokgotloe, the first black ophthalmologist she’d ever encountered. “One day, he invited me to watch what he was doing. He could see the fascination in my eyes and told me that if I wanted to, I could do it too.” That moment changed everything. Now based at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, Dr van der Lecq is the first black female ophthalmologist employed in the ophthalmology division at UCT. With support from the Discovery Foundation Award for Individual Academic Fellowship 2023/2024, Dr van der Lecq is working to establish a national ROP register, modelled after Sweden’s initiative led by Professor Gerd Holmstrom. “What gets measured gets done better,” she quotes her co-author, Professor Claire Gilbert. Dr van der Lecq estimates that South Africa needs to screen around 16,000 infants annually, with 12-30% developing ROP and 1-4% requiring treatment to prevent blindness. World Sight Day reminds us that over 2.2 billion people globally live with vision impairment or blindness, and at least 1 billion of these cases could have been prevented or remain untreated. Approximately 80% of all vision impairment is considered avoidable. “Ophthalmology is unique because you have to know about other medical conditions like diabetes,” she notes. Her work is not only clinical – it’s deeply personal and systemic. “Children are the most vulnerable population group.”

Mental Health Month: Dr Thabo Mogotlane on healing addiction and restoring mental health As the world observes World Mental Health Month, we spotlight 2023/2024 Discovery Foundation Subspecialist Award recipient, Dr Thabo Mogotlane, whose work is mapping a new path for mental health and addiction care in South Africa. Raised in rural Winterveld, Mabopane, Dr Mogotlane’s path to psychiatry was shaped by resilience, mentorship and the guidance of his mother and grandmother. From borrowing money to register at nursing school to being transferred to Thabamoopo Psychiatric Hospital during his medical internship in Polokwane, his journey was far from easy. Yet, it was at Thabamoopo that he found purpose. “At Thabamoopo, I realised that there was something special in me,” he recalls. Now a fellow at Stikland Hospital in Cape Town - the only institution in South Africa offering a certificate in addiction training - he is also completing a Certificate in Addiction Psychiatry through the Colleges of Medicine and a Master of Philosophy in Addictions at Stellenbosch University. “Addiction is not an individual problem. If you’ve been exposed to a loved one with an addiction, you know it affects mothers, fathers, siblings, and the entire community,” says Dr Mogotlane. “As psychiatrists, we are trained to deal with mental illnesses without addressing the root cause, which is often addiction.” Supported by the Discovery Foundation grant, his research examines the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on people with alcohol addiction and the broader social implications of dependency. “The grant came at the right time. I had to leave my practice and move to Cape Town for two years, which was a major sacrifice. Thankfully, Discovery Foundation covers my tuition, and living expenses, making it possible for me to focus on my studies without the burden of financial worries.” Dr Mogotlane’s work points to the urgency to integrate psychiatry with social services and community-based recovery. “Every patient is like a book – you have no idea what’s inside until you open it. Every brain is different and has a unique story to tell.” Against the backdrop of a nation where one in three people will experience a mental health challenge, Dr Mogotlane’s work is a reminder that healing is possible when compassion meets science.

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