KINGSTON, Sept. 21 (Jamaica Information Service): A total of 225 cataract patients at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester have benefitted from well-needed surgeries, which were performed by a team of surgeons from the United States (US) and India.
US-based Diaspora charity, Mind, Body and Soul Health Ministries, which has been working in Jamaica for several years, organised the medical mission, through sponsorship from internationally renowned Cardiologist and Philanthropist, Dr. Kiran Patel.
The operations, which were carried out during the week of September 15 to 19, have cut by more than half, the number of patients awaiting cataract surgery and have also significantly reduced the waiting time for the procedure.
The hospital had a list of some 418 cataract patients, and persons have had to wait several months to have their eye surgery done. With the assistance, the hospital will be able to more effectively manage eye surgeries.
At a press conference held at the Mandeville-based hospital on Friday
(September 19), Consultant and Head of the Ophthalmology Department, Dr. Gavin Henry, hailed the invaluable contribution of the team of surgeons and other medical professionals.
“The quality of the surgeries has been tremendous, and we are happy to have them back in the future, because they have done excellent work,” he said.
He had special commendation for the Dr. Kiran Patel Foundation, which donated an ophthalmology machine used during the surgeries.
He said that “the good thing about it (machine) is, it not only measures oxygen saturation, but is able to measure your haemoglobin without having to take blood; that’s a significant advance.”
Jamaican national Horace Morgan, who is director of Mind, Body and Soul Health Ministries, said the one week mission at the Mandeville Hospital is part of efforts by the organisation to widen its support to other parishes.
He informed that the charity’s work has been focused on the parish of St. Ann, where his wife, Dr. Hillary Morgan, originated.
Mr. Morgan said he and his wife are happy to give back to the island of their birth. “It was a great week, there were no mishaps, everyone seems to be happy, and it was our pleasure to give back in this way. We are from humble beginnings, and we still have family living here. We are Jamaicans and it gives us much satisfaction to do this,” he stated.
Chief Executive Officer at the Hospital, Alwyn Miller, in lauding what he describes as “a significant milestone in a partnership for improved vision for Jamaicans,” said he is pleased that the team selected the hospital, “and we look forward to having them back to help the people of Central Jamaica.”
The charity has organised health and medical missions to St. Ann for several years and in 2012, collaborated with the Government to improve the mental health, pharmacy, curative, dental, nutrition, family health, diagnostic and environmental health services facilities at the Alexandria Hospital.
