Orel Corporation funds 7,000 cataract operations

Saturday, 2 November 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In line with Ministry of Health’s Vision 2020 program to eliminate avoidable blindness

Joining the global movement to eliminate the main causes of avoidable blindness by 2020, Orel Corporation, which owns the Orange Electric brand, has partnered with the Ministry of Health to facilitate the Sri Lankan ‘Vision 2020’. The Orange Electric’s Social Responsibility arm launched the ‘Light for me – Sight for you’ initiative in 2007 in line with the national plan,

partnering the Sri Lankan ‘Vision 2020’ initiative as one of its major donors; creating an opportunity for the visually impaired to access more facilities in terms of treatment, prevention and care. ‘Light for me – sight for you’ “The concept of ‘Light for me – sight for you’ originated from the idea that Orange Electric as a company which manufactures and markets light bulbs as one of their mainline products, would extend their physical ability to eliminate darkness to shed light to those whose lives are darkened due to avoidable blindness,” said Channa Ranasinghe, Group Director – Corporate and Legal. The Orange initiative to support the visually impaired, benefits a minority in the country; a minority that could easily be minimised. Orange Electric’s Vision 2020 support strategy is three-pronged i.e. to create public awareness, to facilitate vision for the needy and also improve support infrastructure for eye hospitals. Since 2007 Orange has supported 7,000 cataract operations by providing intraocular cataract lenses. The initiative is advertised on the packaging of their CFL bulbs which also spreads awareness amongst the society of the need to support the Vision 2020 initiatives, and the company’s commitment to meet that need for those who cannot afford it. Each Orange Electric CFL bulb that is sold sets aside Rs. 5 towards this cause. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health which is working in line with the national plan, Vision 2020, Orange Electric also contributes to increase the physical infrastructure for the benefit of the visually impaired, which involves construction and renovation of eye hospital wards and theatres as well as donation of hospital equipment that is vital for eye wards and operating theaters. Extending their initiative across the country, the company has donated infrastructure and equipment to 11 hospitals across many parts of the country. Orel Corporation also pioneers in hosting eye screening camps for school children and the public as part of their CSR and have so far covered six cities. Commendable support Extending their efforts further in assisting the visually impaired, Orange Electric also acts as the main donor for the Federation of Visually Handicapped in Sri Lanka. “The support Orange has been rendering to the federation of visually handicapped throughout these years is indeed commendable,” says Alex Jayawardene, President of the Federation for the Visually Handicapped. Celebrating White Cane Day, Orange Electric provides more than 1,000 white canes and provides financial assistance to more than 25 individuals to embark on self-employment initiatives, every year. “Orange is passionate about contributing towards this worthy cause of providing light to those who are in physical darkness,” says Ranasinghe, who explained that the company is glad that they could align their programs with the national plan, since it boosts not only the efforts of the company but also takes into account the needs of the nation at a more macro level.