Berbician blames Cuban medical scheme for poor eyesight

Jul 30, 2008 News

Bushram Ramroop, a resident of Port Mourant, thought himself fortunate enough to have been selected as one of the many Guyanese selected to travel to Cuba to receive medical treatment for a cataract problem that he was suffering from. As far as he was concerned he has returned from Cuba with a larger problem.

The 65-year-old man explained that he travelled to Cuba twice, once in 2006 and again in 2007 after his condition had not improved.

During his first trip to Cuba he underwent cataract surgery in his left eye. After the surgery, he returned to continue his life in Berbice. But despite the surgery, he noticed that his condition was still not improving.

He returned to Cuba the following year, and when he met with a different doctor he was told that during the course of his previous surgery the nerve in his eye had been damaged. Over time, Ramroop explained, he has lost the ability to see out of his left eye.

A source within the Ministry of Health explained that as the programme which sent Ramroop to Cuba has finished, he would not be able to return to Cuba to seek further medical assistance.

However, the same source explained that once Ramroop has been verified as one of the patients who had been sent to Cuba for medical assistance, he would be referred to another ophthalmologist within the Ministry.