Rotary and Helpage uplift vulnerable communities
The Rotary Club of Colombo Uptown (RCCU) and Helpage Sri Lanka (HASL) recently joined forces in a novel project to support vulnerable communities with a special focus on young children and elderly citizens in seven plantation estates at Narthupana Village in the Kalutara District.
Around 150 primary school children received special gift packs consisting of a new school bag, crayons, paints and other stationery items and a year’s supply of exercise books whilst over 200 male and female workers and senior citizens were the beneficiaries of a mobile medical and eye camp.
Communities from the estates of Neuchatel, Forcester, Hill Stream, Kobowella, Mirishena, Millakanda and Halwathura, all managed by Horana Plantation Ltd were assessed by the Helpage medical team consisting of a general physician, an optometrist, nurses and other supporting staff from both Helpage Sri Lanka and Rotary.
81-year old plantation worker K. Subramanium, who received eye treatment said it was the first time a mobile medical camp was conducted at Narthupana, where many elderly plantation workers tend to suffer from various eye ailments. Subramaniam’s words were echoed by R. Mariamma, 75 years, who said the project was a god send to them and praised the efforts of Rotary and Helpage.
In addition to medical support provided by Medical Officer (Non Communicable Diseases) Dr. Erandi Kularathne, around 60 beneficiaries will receive totally free of charge bifocal spectacles made to the right prescription within a month. Another 44 elders were referred to the Helpage Eye Hospital, Wellawatte for free cataract surgery. The total cost of the joint project of school books, mobile medical and eye camp is over Rs.800,000.
Rotary Club of Colombo Uptown President Nomal Wijeyeratne commended Helpage and Horana Plantation Ltd for readily coming forward to support Rotary in this project for these vulnerable elders and their children in the plantation sector.
Helpage Sri Lanka Council Member Nishantha Gooneratne said Helpage Sri Lanka which is a sister organisation of Helpage International, UK, is a charitable non-governmental organisation working for and on behalf of disadvantaged senior citizens in Sri Lanka to improve their quality of lives.