Since January 2023, Alaka Foundation donated USD 800k and Ananda Foundation contributed another USD 500k. Using this USD 1.3 million (LKR 40.5 Crores) financial support, received from both foundations, Assist RR have funded 53.125 free surgeries Island wide since January 2023 till November 2024. Click here for Hospital wise surgeries in 2023 & 2024. At the Eye unit of Jaffna Teaching Hospital (TH) alone, 19,852 free cataract surgeries were conducted in 2023 and 2024 costing LKR 19.25 Crores. These surgeries were funded through what has proved to be a hugely successful private -public partnership model; private philanthropy reducing vast post-covid waiting lists, responding to needs at a local level in government hospitals all over Sri Lanka using government salaried staff in 37 district hospitals. Assist RR implemented this project in collaboration with the relevant hospital Eye Units.
Importantly, the waiting time in the Northern Province was brought down to zero in November 2024. When Assist RR got involved in 2022, the waiting times in the Northern province were almost 4-5 years. The task of bringing the waiting times to zero was made possible by the generous funding of Alaka and Anada foundations through Assist RR, dedication, determination and leadership of Dr M Malaravan (eye surgeon, Jaffna TH), and uninterrupted supplies of IOLs and consumables by Assist RR to Jaffna TH Eye Unit over the past two years. Assist RR also transported patients from other districts to Jaffna and provided meals to the patients. Eye units of Jaffna TH and Vavuniya DGH organised 3 mass surgery camps (4369 surgeries) in collaboration with Assist RR, who provided all logistical support.
A full report on this project is given in this link – Free Cataract Surgeries Funded by Alaka & Ananda foundations through Assist RR in 2023 & 2024 in Sri Lanka




