Standard Chartered Bank invests in eradicating curable blindness

Opens Glaucoma Centre in Panadura Gift of Sight Hospital

Standard Chartered Bank reaffirmed its commitment to address the increasing risk of Glaucoma related blindness in the country by unveiling the Standard Chartered Bank Glaucoma Centre at the Panadura Gift of Sight Hospital.
The Glaucoma Centre houses equipment previously donated by the Bank, such as the Visual Field Recorder which helps to identify the gradual reduction in the angle of vision caused by Glaucoma.  The center will provide free testing for those who cannot afford the testing required for the early detection of the blinding disease.

From left Siri Ariya Perera, District Governor 306A1, Clive Haswell, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank,  Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya, International President 2007-2008 and Ratnapura Pothupitiya Paghghasekara Thero walking around the newly opened Glaucoma Centre

60 percent of those who are blind in Sri Lanka are blind due to Glaucoma. It is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and is a condition that is irreversible and as such the burden on early detection is greater. People over 60, family members of those already diagnosed, diabetics, and people who are severely nearsighted are most at risk. Glaucoma is detected through the use of specialized equipment and if left unchecked will lead to progressive loss of sight. Glaucoma is a condition that is irreversible and as such the burden on early detection is greater.
“The establishment of this Glaucoma Centre is a testament to our commitment to irradiating curable blindness from Sri Lanka and is also a symbol of our successful partnership with the Lions Gift of Sight which has been forged over the years to yield meaningful results for the communities we live in.,” said Clive Haswell, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank when declaring the centre opened.      
Also at the event was International President 2007/08 Lion Mahendra Amarasuriya. He added, “We are very grateful for the assistance that we have been receiving from the Standard Chartered Bank. All this would not have been possible if not for the kind generosity of the Lions Clubs Foundation and our Strong Partner in Service, the ‘Standard Chartered Bank’ who has always extended a helping hand towards our programmes.  In recognition of this, the Lions Gift of Sight Trust has invited The Standard Charted Bank to be registered Trustee to the Trust.“
Standard Chartered has been working closely with the Lions Gift of Sight Hospital Panadura over the years providing over 20 cataract operations a month, free of charge to patients who could not otherwise afford the operations and after care. Also providing equipment for eye surgery to regional hospitals, Standard Chartered has funded training of ophthalmologists in Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SISC) as well as providing them the micro instruments they require, training ophthalmic theatre nurses and providing eye-care, training for over 175 health care workers. At a grass roots level volunteers organized free eye testing for the public through mobile eye testing units, regular refurbishment of the Ratmalana Blind School, as well reading and recording books for the visually impaired.
Standard Chartered Bank, Sri Lanka was the first financial institution to give its Credit Cardholders the ability to make a direct contribution to allow its customers to help improve eye care in Sri Lanka. Standard Chartered Bank provides its credit cardholders the opportunity to share the gift of sight with individuals who could not otherwise afford eye care treatment by transferring their Bonus Points to the ‘Seeing is Believing’ programme. Every Bonus Point transferred is worth one Rupee and every Rupee donated is matched by the Bank and will go towards providing free cataract surgery, preventive treatment and specialised eye care. Customers can also continue to support this effort by opening a Marathon Savings Account which contributes interest of 1% per annum towards ‘Seeing is Believing’.
All Standard Chartered Bank staff volunteer half a days leave twice a month to participate in community programmes such as the ‘Sight for Kids’ eye screening camps which are jointly sponsored by the Bank and the Lions Gift of Sight Hospital. Small groups of staff make trips with Doctors and Nurses to help screen the sight of School Children between the ages of 6 and 12 in schools in districts outside Colombo. In the last six months alone this program has covered three districts; visiting 122 schools, screening over 58,000 children, providing over 1600 spectacles and referring over 600 for surgery. 432 Children had their vision restored through this program.  
The Bank was also given an opportunity to provide urgent eye care through the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition and the INGO Sight Savers International, sponsoring USD 7000 to launch eye clinics in the IDP camps of Chettikulam Vavuniya.  So far the program has screened over 8,000 persons and distributed over 4500 spectacles.  Through the support of SCB the Ministry of Health was able to screen 5,227 persons and distribute 3,363 spectacles to IDP’s. Over 400 volunteers were also trained in Primary Eye Care testing and are helping refer people to the eye camps.
Standard Chartered is globally committed to eradicating curable blindness in all the markets in which it has a footprint, having helped restore eyesight for over a million people worldwide.  35 eye care projects have been set up across 17 countries.  As the single largest corporate contributor to the Vision 2020 agenda, the Bank is proud to be leading the corporate response to the eye care needs of the developing world.