Hong Kong’s St Barnabas giving gift of improved sight to 20 residents this year with help of Operation Santa Claus
- The charity, which runs programmes for the city’s elderly and homeless, is one of 19 beneficiaries of the annual SCMP-RTHK fundraising initiative
- Founded in 1987, St Barnabas is providing free surgeries under its ‘Healing the Vision of the Underprivileged Elderly’ programme for a third straight year
David Ho Kai-shing avoids going out at night. If he knows the weather will be bad, he does not go out at all.
“I’m afraid of falling over, because at my age, that can be very serious,” he said.
The 60-year-old is a resident of High Street House, a hostel in Sai Ying Pun that provides temporary accommodation for the needy. Though he has yet to be officially diagnosed, he believes he has cataracts in both eyes.
He is one of 20 people who will soon receive consultation and treatment for eye diseases, thanks to St Barnabas’ Society and Home.
Operation Santa Claus outpaces last year’s fundraising for Hong Kong charities
Established in 1987, the organisation offers help to the elderly, the poor and the homeless through its outreach programme. It also provides services including temporary shelters and a drop-in centre that provides hot meals.
A list of beneficiaries are selected by Operation Santa Claus every year, and St Barnabas is one of 19 chosen for 2020.
Another person who will benefit from the charity’s project is 91-year-old Wan Wing-hung. Wan, who had cataracts in both eyes, received surgery for his right eye last year. Now, staff at St Barnabas are hoping to help treat his left eye, too.
“It is troublesome for me to go out to see friends, and I need help when going to see the doctor,” said Wan, who lives alone with his elderly wife. “My vision is blurry.”
He also needs to walk slowly when out, paying extra attention to stairs and traffic lights.
Operation Santa Claus raises more than HK$15 million for Hong Kong charities
“The pandemic means longer wait times for everything – clinic visits, procedures – the whole process gets drawn out,” she said.
According to Hospital Authority numbers, the average waiting time at public clinics for non-urgent eye-specialist cases varies by district. For patients in Western District, where St Barnabas is located, the queuing time has a median of 62 weeks. In busier districts such as Kowloon Central, the wait can be as long as 120 weeks.
Now arranging for the 20 beneficiaries to have their procedures done at a private clinic, Li said the original plan was to treat 13 people, but the clinic agreed to reduce the cost so more could be helped.
You can make donations to Operation Santa Claus here
