Sunday Times 2
HelpAge cards help provide free cataract surgeries
View(s):HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) this year released over 100,000 New Year greeting cards to provide free cataract surgeries to underprivileged elderly citizens in the country.
The proceeds from card sales are also used to conduct free mobile medical and eye care camps for elderly citizens over 55 years.
HelpAge Sri Lanka is a non-profit charitable organisation established to resolve medical and low-vision issues faced by elderly citizens. It releases New Year, Vesak, Christmas and birthday cards.
Executive Director Dr Harsha Bandara said there is a marked improvement in donations towards the HelpAge free cataract surgery programme conducted for the past 40 years. He said HelpAge expects similar donations from donors towards these programmes.
Eye Hospital Manager Mahanama Wijesinghe said HelpAge Eye Hospital conducts free cataract surgeries for 20 low income elderly citizens every day at HelpAge Eye Hospital Wellawatta (opposite Savoy Cinema).
The HelpAge fundraising division also thanked bookshops that promote the greeting cards which could also be purchased from HelpAge Head Office at Rattanapitiya, Borelasgamuwa.