Help Age Sri Lanka (HASL) reaching the milestone of 50,000 free cataract surgeries this month is a notable mission, Minister of Health Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said.
Addressing the gathering at the event held to celebrate over 50,000 free cataract surgeries conducted by the Help Age Eye Hospital yesterday (26), Dr. Pathirana said that despite all the economic calamities Sri Lanka faced, the government has never been reluctant to allocate necessary budgets for health and education.
He also added that in Sri Lanka, the country with the highest proportion of adults in the South Asian region, it is the responsibility of the entire society to keep an eye on the well-being of adults.
Chairman of Help Age Sri Lanka, Tilak De Zoysa said that the HASL stands to make sure that older people fulfil their potential to lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives.
“Help Age Eye Hospital was opened to address escalating vision-related issues, particularly the threat of cataracts, faced by the elderly. The new hospital doubled its output with a bed-strength of 20 and performs free surgeries four days a week, targeting 320 surgeries per week and 3,840 surgeries per year. The hospital is staffed by 22 members led by the Eye surgeon Dr Jayantha Vidanapathirana”, he added.
Established as a full-fledged eye hospital in 2009, located at Sinsapa Road, Wellawatte, the HelpAge Eye Hospital stands as the only charitable facility in Colombo offering such vital services.
With a capacity to perform up to 20 free cataract surgeries per day, the hospital operates from Monday to Thursday for surgeries, with Friday designated as a clinic day for patients’ visits and post-surgery follow-ups.
The hospital boasts state-of-the-art equipment, including the Vision Enhancement system from Bausch and Lomb, USA, ensuring optimal outcomes for all patients.
HASL has organized island-wide Mobile Medical and Eye Screening Programmes to restore vision and improve health conditions for senior citizens.
Nearly 60% of elders suffering from refractive error will regain their eyesight with a proper pair of spectacles made to order by HelpAge’s Mobile Medical and Eye Care unit.
Another 30% of elders suffering from low vision due to cataracts will be identified at these camps. Those diagnosed with cataracts are referred to the Help Age Eye Hospital Sinsapa Road, Wellawatte for free cataract surgeries.
(Daily News)
