Help the elderly see with a cataract surgery

Impact

Jani Shankar Phadwade is a 67 year old woman. She lives in a village in Jawhar Taluka in Palghar district. This is a tribal belt about 100 kms from Mumbai.Jani used to work as a manual laborer in the fields to earn a living. At an age where this was hard enough, her situation became worse when **her vision started failing.** She was in utter despair as she thought that she was going blind and would lose her means of livelihood.She attended the screening camp organized at her village by HelpAge with the help of Bhakti Vedanta Hospital. It was then, that that she learnt that she had a cataract in her left eye. However, **she knew that she did not have the money for an operation and the hospital expenses.** She felt completely hopeless.**She was thrilled to find out that the surgery would be free.** She was happy that for once, she was getting the care she deserved. She was treated free of cost under HelpAges Restoration of Vision program for destitute elders.**Her operation was soon done was successfully.** Now, she can see clearly, something which she had totally given up hope on.Today Janis eyes twinkle as she gives her famous toothless smile. With her sight restored, she feels independent and spends most of her days looking after her home.**Your help can make this surgery possible for poor elderly people like Jani. You can donate to cover the surgery expenses and help HelpAge provide surgery services to many more needy elders. You can give with confidence because every program listed is [GIVEASSURED](https://www.giveindia.org/giveassured).**

About The Program

HelpAge conducts cataract eye surgeries in 21 states. Credible and competent eye hospitals and organizations carry out surgeries with HelpAge Indias support. All surgeries under the program are performed only in base hospitals. Cataract is one the major causes of blindness in India. Close to 12 million elders in India suffer from cataract affected blindness and cannot afford treatment. HelpAge enters into agreements with identified hospitals after a thorough due diligence of infrastructure and implementation capability of the institution. The hospitals are provided a grant for a specified period of time during which a pre-agreed number of cataract surgeries are to be conducted. HelpAge has offices in all large states of the country and has the regional implementation teams actively monitoring and tracking the implementation of the cataract project round the year. They also conduct audits of the partners accounts to ensure that funds are utilised as agreed. At the hospital, there are regular screening camps conducted to identify patients with cataract who are then transported to the hospitals for surgery and taken back to their hometowns two days later with necessary post-operative medication. HelpAge receives regular reports with details of each individual patient from the hospital which can be then independently verified. Since 1980, this program has benefitted more than 9 lakh elders, not just restoring their sight but enabling them to go back to work and live a life of dignity. HelpAge, through this program conducts more than 45,000 cataract eye surgeries annually. This year HelpAge is looking to conduct close to 60000 cataract surgeries across the country. Each of your monthly donation you make will be utilised towards conducting one cataract surgery in the most underserved part of the country where accessibility to health facilities is low.

About The NGO

Helpage India aims to serve elder needs in a holistic manner, enabling them to live active, dignified and healthier lives.In a country of 104 million elders, 51 million live below the poverty line. By 2050 the number of senior citizens is estimated to rise to 324 million. With more than half the country's elderly living below the poverty line, even day to day survival is crucial. Where quality of life is concerned for these elderly, there is much left to be desired. Inadequate healthcare, minimal or no pension and a depleting source of income, often force the destitute rural elderly to continue working despite physical hardships.HelpAge India is a leading charity in India working with and for disadvantaged elderly for nearly 4 decades. HelpAge advocates for their needs such as for Universal pension, Quality healthcare, Action against Elder Abuse and many more at a national, state and societal level with Central and State governments. HelpAges focus over the years has moved from welfare to development. They provide elderly relief through various age-care interventions. They conduct cataract surgeries to restore sight of elders, looks after their basic needs though its Support-a-Gran program, runs Elder Helplines across the country, provides relief & rehabilitation for elderly post disasters and provides active-ageing opportunities.They run one of the largest mobile healthcare programs through its Mobile Healthcare Units. These units operate across the country providing free healthcare services to destitute elders. They also help elders earn their livelihood through the formation of Elder-Self-Help Groups making them self-reliant.