SHAH ALAM - Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre (BTMC) is providing 30 free cataract surgeries for patients aged between 49 to 78.
The programme called ‘Gift of Sight’ was also in collaboration with the Klang Central Rotary club to support the lower income groups who could not afford the cataract surgeries.
BTMC chief executive officer Jasmine Lau said it was also a platform for them to build awareness on the importance of eye health among the public.
"As we play our part to improve the quality of life for Malaysians, the ‘Gift of Sight’ programme also provides us with a platform to raise awareness on the need to take care of our eyes as blindness resulting from cataract can be avoided through early detection,” she said.
Cataracts is an eye disease that commonly affects the elderly, obese, diabetic patients and more, it also contributes to 50 per cent of blindness worldwide.
The cataract surgeries will be performed by BTMC’s Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon Dr M Narendran Muthukrishnan.
Moreover, this programme also saw Alcon Malaysia contributing free lenses and consumables that were required for the surgery.
"With the rising cost of living which is particularly challenging for the low-income bracket, we are glad to be able to support people from all walks of life through this initiative.
"It gives us an opportunity to make healthcare accessible to all thanks to the contributions of Rotary Club and Alcon,” she added.
Apart from the surgeries, BTMC also is also providing basic eye screening for 38 children and parents from the B40 community.
Rotary Club Klang Central Organising Chairman Mahandran Vellasamy shared their satisfaction for being able to serve the B40 families with the ‘Gift of Sight’ programme in Klang.
"Through this programme, we aim to alleviate the hardship that some families have go through due to cataracts and bring significant changes to their lives.
"We would like to thank BTMC for making this a success, and we hope to be able to continue such efforts that bring positive and uplifting change,” he said.