Banking
HNB ties up with “CHILD EYE” to help improve children’s eye health
View(s):Continuing its pivotal role of promoting savings habit among children, Hatton National Bank (HNB) recently tied up with ““CHILD EYE”” one stop clinic to help improve children’s eye health across Sri Lanka for the first time in banking history.
Dr. Amila De Alwis Consultant – “CHILD EYE” center
In an interview with Sunday Times Advertising, HNB’s Assistant General Manager – Personal Financial Services, R.M.P.Dayawansa said that any new or existing HNB Singithi Kiriketiyo, Singithi Lama or HNB Teen account holder will get an opportunity to check their eye sight and obtain consultancy services for eye care at ““CHILD EYE”” centre at a discount of 50%.
The scheme will contribute towards the detection of poor eye sight, blurred vision and related problems including avoidable blindness in children island wide. He added that small children are unaware about weaknesses in their eye sight therefore it is essential to get their eyes examined periodically.
HNB and ““CHILD EYE”” were able to understand this situation and are now offering vision screening service at a discount of 50% on consultancy fee, he said.
Dr. Amila De Alwis and his team of consultants provide consultancy services at ““CHILD EYE”” Centre, Welikada , Rajagiriya under the said tie up with HNB.
“CHILD EYE”, children’s eye clinic is Sri Lanka’s first institution dedicated solely to detecting and treating eye diseases in children, while also functioning to actively increase awareness of children’s eye conditions and the importance of regular eye checkups of children.
According to Dr. Amila De Alwis, children’s eyes are their most precious connection to the outside world. Their social interaction, academic performance, engagement in physical activities and their overall development and outlook depend much on their eye’s vision. Children’s eyes are very different to those of adults. Firstly, it is in the first decade of life that our vision develops and clear vision entering the eye is needed for our eyes to reach their maximum visual potential, Dr ,De Alwis stated.
As opposed to 20-30 years ago, with the advent of computers, phones, laptops and tablets, coupled with increase academic demand in the present day, the focus of most children’s vision has shifted from distance to near.
This has resulted in a higher prevalence of ocular symptoms such as eye strain, blurring of vision, tearing and headaches, which in turn has resulted in more children requiring spectacles. Certain eye conditions are very common in children, affecting up to 30% of them. But children are often too young to express/understand that they have low vision, in one or both eyes.
R.M.P.Dayawansa Assistant General Manager - Personal Financial Services-HNB
When they are old enough to realize that their vision is low, it’s often too late to correct the defect and lifelong reduced vision will persist. This is why early and regular checking of children’s eyes and vision is compulsory, he said
HNB Singithi Lama or HNB Teen savings account could be opened at any HNB customer centre across the island or at a school banking unit by making a deposit of Rs. 500- while HNB Singithi Kiriketiyo savings account can be opened at any HNB customers centres with a deposit of Rs.1, 000-. Hatton National Bank in its efforts to promote the savings habit among school children initiated the school banking unit concept in schools in 1994.
The bank has setup 168 School Banking Units where Student Managers who are molded to take leadership in maintaining a mini bank in schools get actively involved inculcating the savings habit among students.
HNB Singithi Kirikatiyo, Singithi Lama & HNB Teen account holders could now avail this benefit from ““CHILD EYE”” till 31st December 2013 by simply submitting their savings pass book. Further information could be obtained by calling ““CHILD EYE”” on 011 2888835.
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