India: Health & Eye Camp for WACKER’s Neighbors

Amtala/Kolkata, Feb 19, 2016

Last December Wacker Metroark Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. (WMC), WACKER’s joint venture with the Kolkata-based silicone manufacturer Metroark, ran their Health & Eye Camp for the ninth time. This time around 600 people from the local neighborhood took part in the free eye and health checks. The eye specialists prescribed glasses to 410 patients; 71 of those tested were referred to hospitals to treat their cataracts. As well as eye tests, general health checks including blood tests and ECGs were also offered.

Wacker Metroark has been involved in the Health & Eye Camp provided for its neighbors since 2008.

“We’re very proud of the fact that our small team has managed to organize such an initiative for the ninth time,” says Soumitra Mukherjee, Managing Director of WMC. “We provided two thirds of participants with glasses free of charge. The cataract operations for those affected will be of long-term benefit to their quality of life.” WMC has not only taken on the costs of the glasses but also of operations at the Susrut Eye Foundation hospital.

“Ultimately it was not just the money, but above all the involvement of many WMC employees that formed the foundation for the huge success of our health initiative,” stresses Dr. Sascha Büchel, Executive Director of WMC. 12 WMC employees supported the 32 doctors and their assistants from the SRL Ltd. diagnostic center and the Susrut Eye Foundation.

Since the first initiative in 2008 the number of participants has constantly risen – from 150 in the beginning to some 600 patients in December 2015. The Health & Eye Camps are aimed primarily at people from the local neighborhood who are unable to afford health checks themselves. However, patients who come from further afield are also treated.

Wacker Metroark is committed to other projects relating to corporate social responsibility, for example making improvements to infrastructure in schools and the supply of drinking water at public facilities. In cooperation with the German-Indian Chamber of Commerce, WMC also promotes training in technical professions.