Donate to SLYO's Medical Camp in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing the most crippling economic crisis in over 70 years, with over 60% of the population living below the poverty line. Access to healthcare has become a luxury, as rising medication costs, severe fuel shortages, and food insecurity have rendered citizens unable to access healthcare services, procure medications, and maintain their health. These issues have disproportionately affected rural, low-income communities such as tea estate workers, paddy-field workers, and fishermen, who typically lack adequate healthcare access.

Sri Lanka relies on imports for around 80% of its medication and medical supplies. With the depletion of foreign reserves and inflation exceeding 50%, the country's nationalized healthcare system cannot support importing sufficient quantities of essential medications and supplies, leading to massive shortages. In April 2022, there was a 40% increase in medication costs, making it unaffordable for most of the population. Sri Lanka is also losing expert clinicians as they have immigrated to other countries for better jobs since the onset of the crisis, increasing the burden on the remaining medical staff to keep the collapsing system afloat.

Food insecurity and malnutrition have exacerbated the disease burden, especially in vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant and lactating women, and senior citizens. According to reports from the World Food Program (WFP), 86% of Sri Lankan families are now buying cheaper and less nutritious food. Following a poor diet makes them more susceptible to nutritional deficiencies, which cause several problems, including decreased immunity and poor cognitive function.

In Nelawa, Kurunegala, a rural community in Sri Lanka, severe malnutrition and food insecurity following the economic crisis has resulted in several children suffering from vitamin and mineral deficiencies, major risk factors for diminished immunity, poor brain development, and short stature. According to the local branch of the Ministry of Health, the nearest hospital is several miles away, making it an area in dire need of a project of this caliber.

SLYO (Sri Lankan Youth Organization) strives to make a tangible difference through our free, one-day medical camp in Nelawa, serving approximately 600 locals. The medical camp will provide essential medical care to a population in dire need of assistance. With the aid of local healthcare professionals and excellent supporting staff, we will offer free services, including blood pressure and vision checks, diabetes screening, hypertension screening, general medical clinic (consultations for other medical complaints), and prescription glasses for school children requiring them.

The statistics are clear, and we need your help to make a difference. All contributions to SLYO’s Medical Camp will support the purchase of medications that we will distribute free of cost to patients, medical equipment to be used at the medical camp, and prescription glasses for school children that require them following an ophthalmological evaluation at the camp. Any excess funds will be used to purchase milk powder packets for malnourished children as a nutritional aid.

We expect that SLYO’s medical camp will be a crucial step toward addressing health inequity in this disadvantaged population by connecting them with clinicians, resources, and free medications to augment their healthcare experience.

About SLYO:

The Sri Lankan Youth Organization (SLYO) is a 501(c)(3) global nonprofit headquartered in the US that aims to harness the power of community to inspire youth to lead by giving back to the world around them. SLYO was founded in 2011 in California and has since expanded to various regions worldwide, with additional chapters in the UK, Canada, and Sri Lanka. Over the past decade, SLYO has funded many community development projects in the most rural areas of Sri Lanka, focusing on underprivileged schools. Instead of sending random donations or supplies, we create relationships with local educational leaders to determine the specific needs and then build a fundraiser around that need. We see each project from conception to delivery by having boots on the ground to ensure that funds are spent on their intended purpose, and no vendor takes advantage of the kindness of our patrons. We are proud to say that SLYO youth have taken a step to create meaningful change.