The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Sri Lanka recently joined with HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) to strengthen the needs and voices of the elderly and other vulnerable populations on the island.
The objective of the partnership agreement between UNFPA and HelpAge Sri Lanka is to focus on strengthening the disaster preparedness capacity and the plans centred on senior citizens and also the building capacities of Senior Citizen Committees (SCC) in the country’s vulnerable areas prone to natural disasters.
Established in 1986, HelpAge Sri Lanka has been at the forefront of creating a better world and a safer environment for Sri Lankan elders by implementing many programmes and projects island-wide to make them more resilient over the past three decades.
At the signing event, HelpAge Sri Lanka, Chairman Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa highlighted that HelpAge Sri Lanka was established with the objective of improving the health and social well-being of less-privileged Sri Lankan Senior Citizens.
“Our flagship programme is to perform cataract surgeries on underprivileged elderly citizens free of charge at HelpAge Eye Hospital, located at Sinsapa Road, Wellawatte, Colombo 6 (Opposite Savoy Cinema),” he said. Chairman de Zoysa also highlighted that Sri Lanka has the fastest growing ageing population in South Asia and said predictions have revealed that by 2030, one (1) in five(5) Sri Lankans will be over the age of 60 with the majority being women.
“Considering these challenges, the country must be prepared for emergencies,”
UNFPA Representative Ritsu Nacken stated, “With a firm commitment to leaving no one behind, UNFPA is pleased to partner with HelpAge to strengthen efforts to ensure the needs and voices of older persons and other vulnerable populations throughout their recovery efforts.”
0 comments: