Ghanaian medical duo conducts cataract Surgery at Berbice Ophthalmology Hospital
DPI, Guyana Wednesday, May 1, 2019
A doctor and nurse duo visiting from Ghana has carried out a total twenty-two cataract surgeries at the National Ophthalmology Hospital (NOH) at Port Mourant, Corentyne.
According to the Doctor-in Charge at the hospital Dr Devendra Radhay, said the duo – Dr. Boateng Wiafe and the accompanying nurse – were here for three days during which time they performed the surgeries.
Benefiting from the work of the Ghanaian team were patients from Berbice and as far away as the communities of Orealla and Orima. When the Department of Public Information (DPI) visited the hospital, patients were seen being taken care of by the staff attached to the NOH.
Khaymattie Gharbarana of Tain, Port Mourant was the first patient to have her cataract surgery done at the NOH for the year 2019. “Nothing but happiness and the joy is what I have to express,” Gharbarana said following her surgery.
Naline Boodhu and Manita Mangal of Number 59 and Number 66 Villages, Corriverton respectively, were both diagnosed with cataracts in their left eyes in 2015. However, they, were unable to conduct the surgeries due to the conditions at the NOH at that time.
74-year-old Rajdai Gridharry, of Number 19 Village, had successful surgery to remove a cataract in her left eye in 2015. However, one year later she was diagnosed with the same illness in her right eye. “It bothered me a lot when I could not see clearly even with the glasses so I am thankful for this opportunity to have the other surgery done now, I was so happy when I received the call from the doctor in charge of the Hospital to come to get my surgery done.”
Parbattie Jagmohan 73 of Liverpool Village, Corentyne, noted that she received her diagnosis a year ago and like the others, the cataract was found in her left eye. According to Jagmohan, she was a bit nervous the first day which saw a spike in her blood pressure, so she was encouraged to return home and visit the following day when she was calmer. Jagmohan thanked the team and the hospital’s management for accommodating her to conduct the surgery.
Also, among the patients who successfully completed their surgeries was Reddie Cobis. The 75-year-old Cobis who hails from Orima Village was contacted by Dr. Radhay inviting him to travel to Berbice in order to have his eye surgery done. Cobis complimented the doctors and nurses attached to the Port Mourant hospital and NOH.
Dr. Radhay told DPI that a team from “New Horizon” is slated to commence further more surgeries from May 1, 2019. According to the doctor in charge, it is expected that this will make an immense dent in the current backlog of close to 800 cases. However, it was noted that the list has not been updated in a while and the names of persons who may have passed away or had their surgeries done remain on the list.
Following this, he further noted that medical teams from the Sai Baba and the Medical Relief team will also be performing additional cataract surgeries, as well as working along with doctors attached to the hospital to lay the foundation for the facility to be able to perform at least 20 surgeries per month after their departure.
According to the Director of Regional Health Services, Region Six, Jevaughn Andrew Stephen, his administration is working towards having the National Ophthalmology Hospital operable daily after the various medical teams would have left.
Stephen said the feedback from the public has been great over the past few days since the commencement of cataract surgeries, “seeing the joy and excitement on the face of these patients especially the elderly folks was simply amazing. So in keeping with our mandate to deliver effective, efficient, quality and timely medical services to our residents; we will work towards having the National Ophthalmology Hospital operable to patients permanently.”
The Director acknowledged the Medical Teams for their support and noted that he looks forward to working once more with them soon.
Story and Images by Tanuja Raikha