Eye care programme

ABOUT HELPAGE SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is a developing country with an ageing population: 10% of people are over 60 years of age. According to the Institute of Policy Studies, this percentage will double in the next two decades and by the year 2025, 25% of Sri Lanka’s population will comprise of persons aged over 60.
HelpAge Sri Lanka is a national voluntary organization dedicated to improve the quality of life for Older Persons in Sri Lanka, irrespective of religion, caste or race.
It is an approved Charity (Government Gazette Notification No.497 of 11.03.88) which is registered as a Social Service Organization under the Department of Social Services (Reg.No.11/4/590/86). HelpAge Sri Lanka has also been registered as a Non Government Organization (No. N (A) 52) under the registrar of companies.
For more information please visit www.helpagesrilanka.org

ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER WORK

The Eye Care Unit –

Eye care for elders was a long felt need. In Sri Lanka most of the community’s elders have problems with their sight - mostly due to either poverty to ignorance. In 1994 the Eye Care Unit was set up, for which funds were initially raised by the direct mail campaign. With the passing of years, an Eye Care Centre for Cataract surgery was set up in Nugegoda. There is a bed strength of 12 and operations are performed thrice weekly. All operational and medical facilities are provided free of charge to elders in need.

On pre-surgery days, the services of volunteers are needed to:

• Speak to the patients. Help calm their fears of having the operation and so on.

On surgery days, the services of volunteers are needed to:

• Help the patient to and from the operation theatre’s and help them move about when required.
  
• Help with the serving of tea and lunch.

On clinic days, the services of volunteers are needed to:

• Direct patients through the screening process – maintain order.