Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
Over 100 people visit the Ophthalmology Centre daily
A patient having her eyes ‘checked out.’
Some patients waiting to be examined by the doctors.
The Port Mourant Ophthalmology Centre in Berbice, Region 6, is in full operation, as over 100 persons visit the facility on a daily basis to be examined and treated for various eye problems.
This is according to Shaneeza Nabi, a clerk in charge, who told Kaieteur News on Wednesday that since the commissioning of the facility on July 25th, persons have been turning out in their numbers at the institution.
The Centre has its work cut out, as between 15 to 23 eye surgeries are conducted everyday. According to Nabi, although there are increasing numbers of persons visiting, the staff and the doctors can handle the situation, as some of them even work through their lunch hour.
Nabi said that people from as far as Essequibo seek the services being offered at the institution, and even stay overnight so that surgery can be performed the next day.
Several patients who were waiting to be examined expressed their appreciation for the services being offered at the institution, as according to them, it saves them time and money from seeking a similar service at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Though the wait may be long, persons said, that it is worth it in the end, as they are thoroughly examined.
Guyana is the first country in the Caribbean and Latin America to have a state-of-the-art Ophthalmology Centre, which was constructed at a cost of some $140 million.
The Centre is expected to facilitate a total of 10,000 eye surgeries on a yearly basis in the areas of corrective refractive error, cataract, glaucoma, and retinopathy and retina detachment, while one of the long-term plans is to conduct eye transplants.
The establishment of the centre is part of the Cuban health assistance package which was initiated in 2006 following a visit by President Jagdeo to Cuba.
The facility is being managed by a 40-member Cuban medical team, who are also being accommodated at the institution itself.
The team includes, doctors, nurses, technicians, bio medical engineers and support staff.
(Fareeza Haniff)
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