Latest update February 4th, 2025 9:06 AM
Eye surgeries resume at Port Mourant hospital after 3 years
– backlog of over 2,000 cases
After an almost three-year hiatus, the National Ophthalmology Hospital at Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne is once again functioning.
Laser cataract surgeries as well as those for normal cataracts are currently being done.
The National Ophthalmology Hospital, Port Mourant, East Berbice, Corentyne.
Region Six’s Director of Regional Health Services, Jevaughn Stephen, recently made this disclosure to the Department of Public Information in an interview.
The operations were affected after a major fire damaged equipment and the building.
He noted, however, that the operations have not yet fully resumed, according to a Government statement.
He explained, “Work has not picked up to the full pace as we would have liked. We have new equipment and new personnel, so, as we are getting back on stream and being mindful of the loads of the machine, we don’t want to overload the work schedule as yet. However, I do believe within the next 14 days we should be back at full peak.”
Stephens noted that as a result of the break in operations, there was a buildup of over 2,000 cases requiring surgery and every effort is being made to clear the backlog first. This is being done even as new cases are coming in. However, each case is assessed and based on the evaluations, priority is given to the more critical cases.
Additionally, to help better boost efficiency, the Guyana Medical Relief Mission made a donation of Ophthalmology equipment, drugs and medical supplies on May 24.
Despite the facility being unable to conduct surgeries for the past three years, screening, testing, and other services were still offered.
Previously, drugs, equipment and medical supplies were supplied to the facility through the Cuban Government. This ceased after that contract was halted suddenly, the Regional Health Director noted. Efforts to understand why the contract was stopped were unsuccessful.
However, recognising the important role the Ophthalmology Centre played to Berbice residents, the Regional Administration and the Government decided to purchase the necessary drugs.
They also wrote to the Guyana Medical Relief Mission for assistance and were successful in covering the initial startup through assistance from donor agencies and the regional health budget.
The National Ophthalmology Hospital was constructed in July 2009 and has treated thousands of patients from Guyana and the Caribbean. The facility has the capacity to conduct some 10,000 surgeries annually.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The burden of proof rests on the asserting party
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- In recent days there have been serious assertions made and associations implied without... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
