A group of volunteer optometrists and nurses has returned from Sri Lanka where they provided free eye care services and glasses to people in the regions of Kilinochchi, Mulaidevu, and Trincomalee. With the help of local translators and nurses, the team from Global Hand Charity, saw over 500 people each day of the trip.
Global Hand Charity is a not-for-profit organisation that facilitates outreach programs to help communities in need all over the world. All volunteers are self-funded, which means all profits raised go directly to communities in need. While their scope of aid is diverse, their focus on eye care services is a key priority.
The recent trip to Sri Lanka helped meet the essential eye care needs of communities profoundly affected by civil war and political unrest.
Optometrist Patrycja Zelazny, who was one of the volunteers, described the program as “a huge success”.
“We set up stations at schools and hospitals in the three regions, which allowed us to reach a large number of people in a short amount of time. Recruiting the help of local translators and nurses, helped bridge the language barrier and provide better patient outcomes,” she said.
The impact of the program was felt deeply by people in the communities visited, with one recipient of the service saying, “their kindness touches our hearts, their glasses opened our eyes, now we are seeing new adventures”.
Reverend Joshua, a Rotarian who worked closely with the Global Hand Charity team on the ground in Sri Lanka, was also moved by the program’s impact. “The story of the Global Hand Charity in Kilinochchi and Mulaidevu is the greatest history of our time. You and your team put your feet as gold print in our soil,” he said.
Ms Zelazny said the success of the program highlights the importance of outreach programs in communities that need them the most.
“By providing free eye care services, Global Hand Charity made a significant impact on the lives of many people in Sri Lanka and empowered communities through the means of sight. The program serves as a reminder of the power of small gestures and the transformative impact that can come from providing basic healthcare services to those who need them the most,” she said.
