Sri Lankan YouTuber Manitha Abeysiriwardena, better known as ManiYa, has raised over USD 4,000 for the National Cancer Institute of Sri Lanka (Apeksha Hospital). Initially setting up a goal of USD 1,000, the YouTuber managed to cross the target in less than 30 minutes. The stream raised USD 4,318 (~LKR 1.2 million) for the cause.
The raised funds net at around USD 3,906 after service fee deductions from the platform’s payment gateway (Stripe/Ko-Fi), which amounts to roughly LKR 1.13 million. However, the YouTuber states that he will cover the balance to round off LKR 1.2 million and that he hopes to reach out to the hospital administration regarding the donation over the next couple of days. “Right now, we’re thinking it would be ideal to buy the medicine needed for the baby ward,” he further stated.
Back in 2021, ManiYa hosted a similar charity stream that raised LKR 210,000 towards child development centers. According to Manitha, the donations supported 96 kids for two weeks in dry rations.
“I usually do some sort of charity for my birthday every year, and this year we were determined to do a charity for the Apeksha Hospital.” The YouTuber shares that this year’s idea was inspired by one of his own fans, Anuja Ranawake, who passed away a couple of months ago due to cancer. Prior to his passing, Anuja had suggested raising funds for cancer patients in one of ManiYa Streams videos.
Building better care
Incidentally, ManiYa’s charity stream comes days after Apeksha Hospital announced its own website for donations – Help Apeksha. The site offers details about ongoing projects where international donors can contribute to a specific cause. Visitors can also see details about contributors and their donations for each of these projects, similar to a typical fundraising campaign.
Developed by Millennium IT ESP, the platform will be maintained by the company for the next three years as part of its CSR initiative. The payments towards the hospital’s efforts are currently processed by Sampath Bank and Lanka Pay.
At the time of writing, the site lists four different projects that are raising funds for essential medicine, and infrastructural needs, along with medical equipment like ultrasound machines and an Automated Vacuum Infiltration Tissue Processor.
“Before the website, there was no clear direction for individuals who wished to support Apeksha Hospitals. We recognized and understood the need for increased transparency, and the need for a platform that would empower donors from around the world,” comments Nishan Wasalathanthri, Chairman of the NCISL marketing committee.
Donations play a critical role for institutes like Apeksha Hospital, particularly when it comes to medical supplies, updating equipment, and general care. The lack of updated medical equipment has already put hundreds of pediatric patients at risk early this year. Additionally, previous incidents have showcased how catastrophic a mismanaged system can be when it comes to health services.
In any case, the launch of Help Apeksha to streamline donations is a welcome addition to facilitating the hospital’s needs. Authorities’ attempts at enabling better accountability and transparency are only likely to push more support, particularly amid efforts like ManiYa’s charity streams.
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