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Under the tsunami response programme HelpAge has planned for the construction of 250 houses for older people and their families who have lost their homes. The houses are to be constructed in 10 sites with each site consisting of 25 houses plus a community centre. For more….. |
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TOU continues to distrubute clean drinking water to areas in the eastern province and repairs and reconstructs wells and builds latrines in the region. |
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Research on social protection and on the provision of pensions for vulnerable older people is to be carried out. The research will focus on policy development and advocacy on the above issues |
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Under the Tsunami Response programme HelpAge donates disability aids consisting of wheel chairs, walking sticks and hand operated tricycles etc., to senior citizens in the eastern and southern regions. For more... |
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Medical and eye camps are conducted every month in different parts of the south and east where patients are examined, necessary tests are taken and medication given. For more… |
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Eye check ups for new spectacles and cataract eye operations are also conducted at the medical and eye care clinics. Patients qualifying for cataract operations receive assistance at the HelpAge Sri Lanka Eye Hospital in Colombo. The operations if done privately can cost the patients Rs. 25,000/= plus expenses for drugs after surgery. For more … |
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HelpAge conducts voluntary training programmes for volunteers in community home care and in professional Elder’s Home care services. Voluntary home care training consists of training volunteers for a period of 14 days on providing services for older persons who are living with their families or on their own but with little capacity to care for their needs. The voluntary age care training, which is for a period of 3 months, trains community workers on all aspects of nursing and managing of elder’s homes. For more …. |
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Thambirasa Pooranim – 58 years
Sittivinayahar Village SCC
Batticaloa
Sri Lanka |
Thambirasa lives with her husband in a small hut adjoining their daughters’ home. She has three sons and a daughter, all married and living in the same village. Thambirasa suffered from a cataract condition for 17 years and was nearly blind. She did not know that her eye-sight could be regained and did not see a doctor about it. The children helped her in her daily chores, especially her little grand daughter Dharshika. |
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She heard about a free medical and eye camp through CDF - the local partner of HelpAge in the area. Although she decided to go for the medical camp, she did not know of a possibility of free eye operations. At the clinic, she was identified as a cataract patient and HelpAge gave her a date to do her eye operation at the Colombo based eye hospital. Thambirasah shares her experience “We were taken to the eye clinic by CDF in a van. The doctors checked me and told me I had cataract. They told me to come for the operation on February 13th. It was a long distance to travel to get to Colombo but everyone was very helpful and took care of me very well. I was blind for 17 years; I had forgotten my children’s faces and have not even seen my grandchildren. Now I can see my children again and watch my grandchildren play, it is my biggest joy!” |
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“After the operation, I wanted to have a small poultry farm. I applied for a loan of Rs. 1500 through my SCC and started my little farm. I get some eggs now and I am hoping to repay the loan soon”. |
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Thambirasa’s husband (60 years) was bitten by a snake three years ago. Previously he worked as a labourer in fishing and farming. Now he does not go to work as he is suffering from side affects of the snake bite when exposed to sun light. They receive a Government Samurdhi food stamp worth Rs.300 a month which is not enough to meet their monthly requirements but Thambirasa’s children provides them with food and other provisions. |
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Thambirasa’s family did not have a latrine in the area and used the extended land instead of a toilet. HelpAge recently constructed a new latrine for their use. |
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The HelpAge Tsunami Recovery Programme, through the local partners, has organized several trips to Kataragama Temple, Muthiyangana Temple and Dalada Maligawa from the south and to Kataragama Temple and Thanthamalai Kovil from the east.
The trips had a tremendous cathartic affect on the psychology of older people. These people whom have lost their loved ones, families, homes and belongings visited their God’s in the hope of new beginnings. They were able to enjoy themselves, forgetting for a moment the images of the tsunami and the devastated life left behind. |
Some of the identified benefits specific for the victims of the tsunami are: |
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To wipe out the dark and ugly images of the tsunami even for a short time. To share the experience as one community that faced a tragic experience |
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To rid the loneliness that increased since the tsunami. Many older victims have lost their husbands or children and some are isolated from families as their families are also struggling to get back to life |
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To share the common experience of worshipping one God coming from different religions and ethnicities |
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To receive mental relief by engaging in prayer and meditation |
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| Musthafa Lebbai Rahmathumma |
Musthafa is a 56 year old widow living in Oddamawadi, Batticaloe. Her husband died 15 years ago. She has 3 children, two married and one son still schooling. Her small house was destroyed by the tsunami and she now lives in a hut made of cadjan. Her main sources of income are making string hoppers, grinding rice and kurakkan flour, weaving mats and working as a house maid. |
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Musthafa was one among 12 Muslim and 45 Tamil women that went on a pilgrimage organized by HelpAge to Kataragama and these were her own words expressing her feelings “We Tamils and Muslims participated in the pilgrimage together like sisters. I went to the Mosque and prayed to Allah. And I also went to the Kovil although I could not climb the sacred mountain. It was my first time on a pilgrimage although I have always wanted to go and I am very happy for I was treated and accepted as a sister by everyone. Yes I worshiped my God but I am especially happy that we (tamils and muslims) were able to forget our differences and enjoy the day. We sang, danced and prayed together. I know I will always remember the experience…” |
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