The Eyabantwana – For the Children Trust is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the Eastern Cape Paediatric Surgical Services based at East London’s Frere and Cecilia Makiwane Hospitals. Established in 2013, the Trust was created to ensure that children from across the Eastern Cape can receive the surgical care they urgently need, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

The Department of Paediatric Surgery – East London was founded in 1995 and has since grown into one of the four largest children’s surgical centres in Southern Africa. Serving a population of approximately 5 million people, the department provides vital care to children with a wide range of surgical needs.

This includes:

The challenges we face are significant. Many of our patients come from some of the most underserved regions in South Africa, often traveling vast distances to access our services. Despite these challenges, the department strives to provide the highest level of care, even while working within the constraints of a limited public healthcare budget.

To overcome these limitations, Eyabantwana Trust raises much-needed funds through fundraising initiatives and sponsorships.

Our goal is to expand the capacity of the paediatric surgical service by upgrading facilities, acquiring essential medical equipment, and investing in staff training and development.

The acquisition of surgical instruments and equipment, medical material, information technologies and devices.

The refurbishment of  facilities, to upload the acceptable standard of care for paediatric surgical patients.

Education and training of staff involved in the provision of children surgical care, including outreach programmes.