Health Ministry receives eye lenses from HelpAge | Daily News

Health Ministry receives eye lenses from HelpAge

Dr. Asela Gunawardana receiving eye lenses from the HelpAge Executive Director Samantha Liyanawaduge, Dr. Champa Banagala, Consultant Eye Surgeon, National Coordinator, Vision 2020 programme,  Dr. M.D.S Gunathillake, Consultant Eye Surgeon, Focal Point for Cataract, Vision 2020 Programme and HelpAge, Head of Programme Chaminda de Silva were present.

Dr. Asela Gunawardana receiving eye lenses from the HelpAge Executive Director Samantha Liyanawaduge, Dr. Champa Banagala, Consultant Eye Surgeon, National Coordinator, Vision 2020 programme,  Dr. M.D.S Gunathillake, Consultant Eye Surgeon, Focal Point for Cataract, Vision 2020 Programme and HelpAge, Head of Programme Chaminda de Silva were present.

The Health Ministry last week received foldable le Intra Ocular eye lenses worth Rs. 5 million from HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) to be distributed among government hospitals.

Health Ministry Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardana accepted the eye lenses on behalf of the Health Ministry from HelpAge Sri Lanka Executive Directo Samantha Liyanawaduge. The lenses were donated following a request by the Ministry Vision 2020 Programme National Coordinator Consultant Eye Surgeon Dr. Champa Banagala.

Executive Director Liyanawaduge said that a recent survey has revealed that many Sri Lankan elders who need cataract surgeries are unable to get their surgeries due to high cost of the surgeries at private hospitals and non-availability of lenses at the government hospitals. This prompted HelpAge to provide these lenses to needy patients through countrywide Government hospitals to get their cataract surgeries.

In addition HelpAge conducts 20 free cataract surgeries almost every day at the HelpAge Eye Hospital, Wellawatta, Colombo 6 for the people over 55 years.

Dr. Gunawardana highly valued the importance of donating these eye lenses and said that these lenses will be sent to hospitals in due course to expand the cataract surgery programme for disadvantaged older people.


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