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HEALTH / MEDICINE

Eye Clinic/ Eye-donation Services

The Eye Clinic provides free treatment, diagnosis and prescription for people with eye defects. In addition, the clinic also provides spectacles, contact lenses and medication. With the help of government and private doctors, mobile clinics are conducted on a regular basis in the area. Affiliated to the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, this voluntary service has helped many people regain their eyesight.

Bhikkhu Hospital Ward

Located in the Embilipitiya based Hospital, the Bhikkhu ward is a special ward maintained by the Sri Bodhiraja Foundation. The ward serves both sick monk and post-operative patients who require special care during recovery.

WELFARE SERVICES

Orphanage

The orphanage provides a home for children who have lost their families due to the civil strife in Sri Lanka and other causes. Presently there are about 25 children in the orphanage and the number is expected to increase.

Women Welfare Programmes

The Women Welfare Programmes aims to improve the state of the women in the Embilipitiya area. Under this programme, special activities such as classes and seminars on how to deal with family problems and childcare are introduced. The women are also given the means and opportunities to be self-sufficient and economically productive through employment-training programme. At present, many are engaged in self-employment in their own residences in trades like tailoring, dressmaking and other crafts.

Temperance Services

In alliance with the umbrella organisation SOBER SRI LANKA, the Sri Bodhiraja Temperance Organization deals with the prevalent social problems of alcoholism and smoking. The organization helps the addicts through rehabilitation programmes, educates the youths and conducts many other public awareness campaigns to warn of the dangers of these indulgences.

Counseling Services

From the alarming increased in suicide rate among youths in the area, it is evident that there is a growing sense of frustration, due largely to the socio-economic difficulties. To tackle the issue, the Sri Bodhiraja Foundation has started a counseling service under the title of “Bo-suvaya”. Managed by trained volunteers, the service provides a lifeline for troubled teenagers seeking recourse for their problems.

Credit programme

Through a special credit scheme, the Foundation assists poor farmers by providing loans at very low interest rate for agricultural purposes.

Funeral Assistance

A death in the family is one of the most devastating events for an impoverished family. The Foundation’s Sahana Sewa Society provides financial aid and assists in the organisation of the funeral rites to help ease the agony and financial burden.

Dhamma Carika

Once every few months, about 40 monks visit remote villages where there are no organised religious activities. The monks spend their day in the village and conduct house-to-house visits. Through family counselling, they seek to foster family harmony and integrity. They also advise on practical matters such as those of good housekeeping and hygiene matters. In addition, they conduct religious sermons and distribute Dhamma leaflets to promote religious values and uplift the moral standards of the people.

Cattle-saving Programme

To discourage families from animal slaughter and the consumption of beef, the Foundation purchases cattle from butchers. These cattle are given to poor families to provide them with a nutritional source of milk and extra income. Under this programme, more than 140 cattle have been saved so far.