Club News

Leos-Lions invoke blessings on Forces

A unique street parade :

Beverley Jansz

The Leos of Lions District 306A2 organised a parade, with the participation of Lions of the same district, to invoke blessings on the forces engaged in humanitarian operations.

The parade which began from Boralesgamuwa proceeded upto the Bellanwila Temple where a Bodhi Pooja was held to invoke blessings on the forces engaged in humanitarian operations.

Over 500 Leos and Lions of District 306A2 took part in the parade which was led by District Governor 306A2, Lion S.K. Karunasekera and Immediate Past District Governer, Lion Kamal Seneviratne. This was a unique feature in the history of Lionism in

Sri Lanka where Leos and Lions paraded the streets and invoked blessings on the forces engaged in humanitarian operations.

Cardiac Investigation Unit, Negombo B H:

Lions Grant US$46,000

Beverley Jansz

desk jobs, lack of physical exercise, consumption of fast food and animal fat and stressful lifestyles, have since of late led to a marked increase in heart disease in the country.

Although most modern facilities for treatment of cardiac decease were available in a few private hospitals in and around Colombo, such facilities were beyond the means of the poor masses. Situation was grave since there were only extremely limited facilities in state sponsored hospitals.

Free cardiac investigation facilities for the masses, were available only in the Colombo General Hospital, Ragama also in the western province close to Colombo, Kandy, Badulla, Kurunegala and Jaffna Hospitals.

No hospital north of Ragama Teaching Hospital had a Cardiac Investigation Facility. Hundreds of poor patients living north of Ragama up to Puttalam along the western coastal belt of over 100 kilometres, who cannot afford the high cost of an Echo or a Stress ECG, had to await their turn at the Ragama Hospital a minimum of three months.

The wait for small children suspected of suffering from heart ailments was almost six months.

These patients had no choice but to just await their turn at great risk of cardiac failure leaving their life to fate.

The number of heart patients diagnosed in 2005 at the Negombo Base Hospital alone, was 2949. Statistics had revealed similar numbers at other base hospitals. The number of cases which was being referred to Ragama Teaching Hospital for a month for investigation by each of the other hospitals north of Negombo ranged from sixty to hundred.

The Negombo Base Hospital serves around twenty four small hospitals and has a weekly referral cardiac patient list of not more than twenty. These patients were being referred for investigation to the Ragama Teaching Hospital and the overflow thereof, to the Colombo General Hospital. Ragama Teaching Hospital had allocated only two weekdays for patients referred from Negombo Base Hospital.

It was in this backdrop the Lions Clubs International District 306B1 embarked on an ambitious project to set up a Cardiac Investigation Unit at the Negombo Base Hospital at a total cost of Rs. 8.8 million.

At the time this project was embarked on, District 306B1 was only one year old and did not have any accumulated project funds. With an ongoing war in the North for over 23 years and continued inflation in the country reducing profit margins, the new District would never have been able to raise funds of this magnitude from the business community or the public, to set up the unit.

If not for a Grant of US$ 46,000 approved by the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), this project would never have become a reality. The grant was utilized to partly finance the Echo Machine at a cost of Rs. 5.2 million.

The hospital, through the Department of Health provided air-conditioned floor space on the 7th floor of the Hospital to set up the unit and also chipped in with the Stress ECG Machine and the Tread Mill at a cost of Rs. 2.5 million.

The balance funds amounting to approximately Rs. 1.6 million for civil construction, furniture, fixtures and fittings and other accessories including a defibrillator were raised by the district through public fundraising.

On the average forty patients are tested per week at present with the services of the Visiting Cardiologist assigned by the Ministry of Health.

The wait for the patients of the hospital is less than one week, thereby cutting down the period of wait for children to almost zero while the wait for adults is reduced by three months. The Ministry of Health has now upgraded the Negombo Base Hospital as a District Hospital, making it eligible to have a permanent Cardiologist.

The Government has provided for the position in the Budget for 2009 and the appointment is expected to be made within the next couple of months. The facility would be available to the general public six days a week thereafter. On the average one hundred patients per week would then be able to use the facility.

Patients are being registered for treatment by Lion Lady Razana Ismail and Lion Lady Manil Pathirana of the Lions Club of Colombo Orient.	At the Health Camp from left are Lion Amal Samaratunga (President), Doctor Rangith Yapa, Lion Lalith Hewage (Colombo Summerset), Lion Greation Fernando MJF (Regional Chairperson District 306B2), Lion Ajith Wanigasekara (Colombo Orient).	Calibrated spectacles are being donated by Lion Lady Rukshini Wanigasekara and Lion Lady Priyanthi Samaratunga of the Lions Club of Colombo Orient.

Colombo Orient Lions join Chevron on Health Camp

A Mega Health Camp was launched by the Lions Club of Colombo Orient District 306B2 with the support and the sponsorship of Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC in Bandaranayakapura, Rajagiriya focusing the Three-Wheeler Community.

Over 1000 patients received treatment while over 500 needy received Calibrated Spectacles. seven Cataract patients were detected in the process and according to the President of the Club Lion Amal Samaratunga, they will be directed to the Lions Club Eye Hospital in Wattala for surgery shortly. The medical team comprised of four doctors, three opticians and two pharmacists.

The health camp included a general clinic, an eye clinic and also screening for diabetes.

According to the President Lion Amal Samaratunga, this has been yet another successful health camp conducted by them and has been their 8th health camp under the sponsorship from Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC.

He said that two more health camps are pending under this programme and the next one has already been scheduled to be held in Pannipitiya targeting the Three-Wheeler Community, and the 10th to be held in Hikkaduwa focusing the Fishery Community.

The project was visited by the Region Chairperson District 306B2 Lion Greation Fernando MJF who was astonished by the crowd lined-up for treatment and he congratulated the President of the Lions Club of Colombo Orient

Lion Amal Samaratunga and his team for their magnificent efforts to serve the needy.

Bingiriya Lions promote self-employment schemes

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The Club has identified deserving people from different areas in Bingiriya

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Lions Club of Madampe Bingiriya District 306B1 under the leadership of Lion Lakmal Wickramarachchi (Attorney-At-Law) has commenced a number of meaningful self-employment projects to assist the underprivileged communities in and around Bingiriya.

One such scheme is the promotion of sale of fish by providing a complete set of equipment including a bicycle with luggage, box and a set of weighing scales along with Rs. 5000 to start the business.

The Club has identified five deserving people from different areas in Bingiriya and the first bicycle and the set of equipment costing Rs. 17,500 and the cash donation was handed over to the recipient recently to mark the ceremony to felicitate Past District Governors, by the Club.

Past Multiple Council Chairman Lion Mohan de Silva who was the chief guest on the occasion commended the work of the Bingiriya Lions and stated that within a short period of one year, the Bingiriya Lions have been able to conduct a number of meaningful service projects for the benefit of the underprivileged communities in and around Bingiriya which included several well organized health camps and eye camps where more than 1000 spectacles have been donated to deserving individuals.

Past District Governor Mohan de Silva further stated that the Lions Club of Bingiriya though still in its infancy, has shown a lot of maturity in carrying out effective service programs which is a good example to other clubs.

Toastmasters Fun Day on grand scale

Toastmasters of Sri Lanka for the first time saw a galaxy of Toastmasters crowding in to Otters Club to celebrate the Fun Day for which elaborate arrangements had been made to make it an admirable success.

District 82 of Toastmasters has seen to it that the two divisions namely A & H have got together to make it real Fun Night through the evening upto the wee hours of the night.

This gathering really was the occasion to arouse Toastmaster characteristics of all club members of both these divisions to have an opportunity to refresh all memories and reawaken friendships that lasted among them off and on.

Selection of Toasting Queen, the Best Enticing Dancing Duo and Single, Singing Toastmaster, Funniest Dress and most Humorous Star of the Night were some of the highlights of the evening.

The fun loving Toastmasters had it to the brim and no one can say “I missed a little”.

The organizing committee had done a marvellous job to make the event full of glamour and over flowing fun for everybody who has made it to the Otters Club.

There was a representation from the Entire Colombo District and other Toastmasters clubs who are included in the Divisions of A & H and other special invitees. All Toastmasters accepted that the echoes of this event will leave indelible impressions in the minds of all participants.

JCI(SL) conducts health camp at Wanaraja Hospital

Junior Chamber International Sri Lanka Colombo (Colombo Jaycees) organised an health camp at Wanaraja Hospital, Wanaraja Estate, Dickoya, Hatton recently. 600 patients were given medicines and 500 spectacles were donated to the needy. Here the Manager of Wanaraja Estate Prabath Sirithunga presenting a pair of spectacle to a needy. Looking on are Optometrists Tonny, President of Jaycees Sri Lanka Colombo and Chairman of V & Eye Opticians J.C. Malavili Anton, Assistant Manager J. Marker, Jc Sumatha Alakoon, Vice President of Colombo Jaycees and Project Chairman Jc Fedrick. Picture by Edward Weerasinghe