SYMA in association with Sankara Eye Hospital in Pammal conducted a free eye-screening camp as part of Independence Day celebrations. Nearly 140 people benefited from the camp. Health camps have become synonymous with Srinivas Young Men's Association’s (SYMA) Independence Day celebrations. For over 20 years now, the Triplicane-based social organisation has been conducting health camps every August 15. This year, SYMA in association with Sankara Eye Hospital in Pammal conducted a free eye-screening camp at Sri Sirvi Samaj Bhavan, Dr. Besant Road. Nearly 140 people were screened during the camp, of which six were taken to Sankara Eye Hospital for free cataract surgery. About 50 people required spectacles which will be distributed on August 25 in memory of SYMA member K.E. Raghavan. Sankara Eye Hospital has performed over 220,000 cataract surgeries, most of which have been free of cost and for poor and needy patients. While low-cost healthcare is still an experiment in most countries including India, SYMA has proved that subsidised medical care is possible with the generosity and goodwill of people. Started in 1977 for serving the community in Triplicane, the association is involved in various civic improvement schemes in Triplicane. For nearly three decades, SYMA has been running a medical centre at Thulasinga Perumal Koil Street in Triplicane where the consultation fee is just ?2. The medical centre was established in the year 1989. On an average, 30 patients visit the centre for consultation daily. In 2009, a diagnostic laboratory facility was added, where tests are being conducted for blood pressure, ECG and cholesterol, at a subsidised rate. The patients can get medicines from nominated pharmacies free of cost. The association recently tied up with the Medall Health Group. SYMA will collect blood samples and Medall will process the samples and send the reports. SYMA conducts free health camps once in two months. Every Wednesday, SYMA brings in specialists from various departments to attend to patients. A gynaecologist can be consulted in the morning every Monday and Thursday for a fee of ?10. According to Sampath Kumar, secretary of SYMA, the association has grown into a self-sufficient centre and is able to cater to a large group of beneficiaries because of the generous contributions from philanthropists, corporates as part of their CSR activities and the active involvement of residents and volunteers. The association has more than 300 members and the office-bearers are elected every year. They reach out to the members and donors through written communications. SYMA has a scheme where it encourages its donors to contribute ?1000 when they are celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions. There are more than 350 donors who make such contributions. A blackboard in the medical centre lists the names of the donors who has contributed for that day. They also receive contributions from individuals and organisations after hearing or reading about their service in the media. The association does not employ any staff except for the doctor and lab technicians. The centre has been successful mainly because of its volunteers who have ensured its smooth functioning each day, says Sampath. SYMA can be contacted at 28445050/9884211516.

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