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Mission Miracle targeting new eye condition

Nov 01, 2008 News

As the second phase of Mission Miracle continues, mechanisms have been put in place for the screening of anther eye condition which requires treatment that is only available overseas.

According to Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, during the first phase of Mission Miracle, a family was diagnosed with an eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. Ever since, the Cuba Government has indicated its williness to perform surgery for that disease.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a group of genetic eye conditions. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years, or even decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until into their 40s or 50s. They generally retain some sight all their lives. Others go completely blind from RP, in some cases as early as childhood.

Progression of RP is different in each case.

Since that family was successfully treated and the follow-up treatment proved that the disease was halted, it was decided that screening would be done for this disease. Another set of family members, who were diagnosed during the first phase, are eligible for surgery during this current phase.

According to Dr Ramsarran, now that the Mission Miracle has moved the screening process to the Leonora Diagnostic Centre, the personnel there will be screening for RP.

If necessary, persons like those who have been diagnosed with cataract will be taken to Cuba for surgery and the necessary follow-up treatment.

Since the second phase of Mission Miracle restarted in September, one batch of patients has already returned from Cuba, having completed surgery. During last week, the second batch of patients — 39 persons — left for Cuba. Among those are a father and his young daughter, who have both been diagnosed with RP.

Meanwhile, Mission Miracle will soon be conducting screening in Linden. This would be a collaborative effort with an organisation called Eye Care Guyana. Dr Ramsarran said plans are also on stream to have Cuban eye care specialists deployed to the mining town.

Mission Miracle began back in 2006 under the auspices of the Ministry of Health.

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