Financial Times

SCB’s vision is a walk in the park
For able-sighted people there is something terrifying about losing the ability to see. That’s why when we see partially-sighted or blind people going about their daily business it fills us with wonder about what they had to do to get there, to get that confidence and not give up. But there is a sad fact: millions of visually-impaired people are living their lives not knowing that a relatively cheap and simple operation can change their life.

This is where Standard Chartered Bank’s (SCB) “Seeing is Believing” project comes in. For months now there have been huge billboards pushing the project in and around town, and you have probably seen the dual-coloured wrist bands worn by those who have already donated to the cause (at a local SCB near you). To complement this, there is to be a Vision Run on March 25 at Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo — where leading personalities from the world of sport, entertainment, business, among others, are going to take part. But what the bank and Christoffel-Blindenmission (a German NGO) want is for the general public to turn up in droves so that awareness can be spread; so that sight can be restored.

On a more serious note, it is estimated that 161 million people are vision impaired worldwide and 37 million are blind but what is staggering is that 80 percent of this is curable or preventable. And, there are thousands here in Sri Lanka that can be treated. Standard Chartered Group has committed to raising $6 million before the end of this year with the aim of eradicating avoidable blindness for one million people in 10 developing countries. This is what the bank said, and it seems to mean it.

“As for Sri Lanka, what has and is happening is needed equipment being supplied to nine upcountry hospitals, training for nurses in necessary procedures, training of ophthalmologists in small incision cataract surgery, and enabling the early identification of the relevant eye conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma, that can be treated,” said Sabry Ghouse, Head of Commercial Banking, SCB at the bank’s Colombo head office.The hopeful thing is that the cataract operation costs on average Rs. 4,000. The sad thing is getting the news out that people can have this done.

As Mr. Ghouse said with rightful emotion: “There are people who just don’t have the money to catch a bus to the nearest regional hospital. They live in areas where getting to the nearest help is just about out of reach.”
It's all about awareness — so remember the 25th, it'll be a fun day out and a leisurely walk around the park; where SCB is thinking about a half marathon or even a full one in future years. But the thing is you can read this, others would like to — and could do with your help.

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