Knights of sight

The Lions Sight First Hospital provides an invaluable service to needy patients suffering from cataract

Sri Lanka has a backlog of over 300,000 cataract patients awaiting surgery and the number is increasing annually by 1%, studies have revealed. Having identified this urgent need brought about by the lack of resources, the Lions and Lion Ladies of District 306 B1 and 306 B2 embarked on a mission to establish a Lions Sight First Hospital, where patients, especially those from rural areas could get their cataract operations done free of charge.

Since its inception in October 2005, 620 cataract surgeries have been performed to date and around 6000 patients have been checked at the new hospital in Hendala.

“In 1925, Hellen Keller challenged the Lions to be the Knights of the Blind at a convention held in the U.S. Since then, Lions the world over, have been engaged in sight recovery programmes in various ways,” said Mohan de Silva, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sight First Hospital and Past District Governor. The eye hospital, he explained, was the brainchild of the District Governor Lion Dr. Rohan Perera.

The hospital is manned by four eye surgeons Dr. Manel Pasquel, Dr. Deepani Wewalwela, Dr. M. Wijetunga and Dr. Sanath Weerakone, all working on a voluntary basis along with four staff nurses, two attendants, helpers and a hospital administrator.

“Most of the patients who come for surgery at the Sight First Hospital are those referred by the network of Lion members who are entrusted with the task of holding eye camps in their respective districts. But there are those who walk into the hospital of their own accord as well. Those referred by the Lions clubs are also sponsored by them at Rs. 3000 per patient,” Mr. de Silva said.

Patients who are not being sponsored are interviewed to assess their financial level. They are asked if they could bear the cost of Rs. 3,000 for medication. The Intra Ocular Lens (IOL) which is required for the surgery is provided free of charge. According to Mr. de Silva, there are patients who volunteer this amount from their personal funds thereby helping free the funds for another needy patient. Yet, in the event that a patient is unable to find Rs. 3000, it would not hinder his or her chances of undergoing surgery as everything is provided to such patients totally free of charge, Mr. de Silva assured.

Patients who come to the hospital go through the screening test, which is carried out on Tuesdays and Fridays in order to determine if they have cataract. Those diagnosed with cataract will then be subjected to a scan which is done to determine the strength of the lens that is required. The patient is then given a date for the surgery which is done at the hospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Around 20 patients are operated on at each session and the hospital is well equipped with a modern operating theatre, a ward consisting of 14 beds, a screening room, a store room for consumables and equipment, doctors’ room, nurses’ room etc.

Completed at a cost of Rs. 11 million, funds for the Sight First hospital had been channelled through the Lions, Lion Ladies and well wishers. The Lions Club of South East Business-Wheelers Hill, Melbourne, Australia, a twin club of the Lions Club of Hendela and the Sri Lankan Centre for the Advancement of Technological Studies and Social Welfare (SCATS) assisted the hospital by pledging to sponsor 1000 cataract patients each at the rate of Australian $ 30 per patient while The Medical Teams International based in the US donated equipment worth Rs. 7 million. The Sri Lankan cricket team too supported the Sight First Hospital when they participated in a charity dinner during their last tour of Australia.

Mr. de Silva is appreciative of the support received from local health authorities and from Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage for granting permission for the eye surgeons to volunteer their services.

Most of the patients are discharged on the same day the surgery is performed while those coming from far away are given accommodation for that particular day as they cannot travel, says Mr. de Silva adding that in such a situation an additional person who wishes to stay with the patient is also accommodated.

In the hospital premises this week, patients were lining up for examination, those waiting for surgery as well as those who have already undergone surgery. Sixty-five-year-old Merlin Thereisa from Pubudugama Muthurajawela says she is very happy to have had the operation at the Hendala Hospital as it was faster and more convenient as opposed to going to a government hospital.

“I underwent cataract surgery for my right eye at the Ragama Hospital three years ago but when I got the cataract on my left eye, I kept postponing the surgery due to financial difficulties. So, I’m glad to have it done free of charge at this hospital,” she said.

S. A Somawathie (45) from Nochchiyagama, Anuradhapura while waiting near the operating theatre for her turn said the hospital was a blessing for most poor folks like her.