Cataract, other eye surgeries offered free
─ US Army’s New Horizons medical team to complete 300 surgeries
─ other medical teams expected to continue with additional operations
─ service will be sustained after volunteers’ contribution
─ 12 procedures successfully completed in Port Mourant, Corentyne
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, May 8, 2019
A 21-member United States Army medical team is here conducting eye-related surgeries for some 300 patients over a seven-day period.
Surgeries commenced on Monday with 12 procedures successfully completed at the National Ophthalmology Hospital in Port Mourant, Corentyne as Allison Phillips, a resident, was among the first to undergo surgery.
Senior citizen, Celeen John now has a better vision from her right eye after she had cataract surgery done at the hospital. “I come all the way from the West Bank of Demerara. I came to Berbice to do eye surgery and it was successful so anyone looking and would like to do their eyes, don’t be afraid because everything is good here,” Phillips said. “I was afraid first, but you know I made up my mind saying I come to do a surgery, so I had to do it… I am having glaucoma and cataract but is the cataract surgery I did… I wasn’t seeing properly with the right eye, but now I am seeing clearly.”
One of the surgeons, Ophthalmologist Dr. Darryl Carlton said there is a possibility of the team returning to Guyana soon. Meanwhile, other teams are expected to conduct similar surgical exercises during the year.
“I think that there is great potential to do some really good work here. I think there is a lot of visually impaired persons and they can really use the surgery, so I think it will be a great thing for us to come down here again in the future. This is a wonderful hospital we are working at; we have nothing but great cooperation.”
The management of the ophthalmology hospital is also gearing to independently sustain the service delivery after the team would have left. Doctor in Charge of operations at the hospital, Dr. Devendra Radhay said management is hoping to forge ahead with cataract surgeries on a larger scale in addition to other surgeries already being offered.
There have been complaints that the National Ophthalmology Hospital was inoperable; however, public health officials in the region confirmed that the facility has been doing minor surgeries for quite some time. Also, screening continues, and persons have received glasses for minor eye defects.
“We are doing surgeries. We have been doing surgeries, major surgeries… There are a lot of persons who come here every day for glasses, check their eyes, so we do provide a service,” Dr. Devendra Radhay explained.
Delicia Haynes.
Images: Jules Gibson.