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Cataract surgeries return to National Opthalmology Center
Patients waiting to be attended.
The first phase of cataract surgeries was successfully executed at the National Opthalmology Centre, Port Mourant by a volunteer doctor from Ghana. He was assisted by the medical team from the hospital.
Although there were some issues with the electricity and the back-up plan which forced surgeries scheduled for Thursday afternoon to come to a halt until Friday, the three days of surgeries were considered a success. Many patients expressed their pleasure in the process.
According to the doctor in charge of the institution, Dr. Devendra Radhay. the Ghanian doctor, volunteered his services for three days from Wednesday. More than 20 surgeries were completed.
The National Opthalmology Centre, Port Mourant
A staff member at the institution reported that there was no fuel to run the generators during the power outage on Thursday, however, Dr. Radhay debunked that claim. He said that that is not true.
He explained that there was fuel available but the GPL service was experiencing low voltage Thursday afternoon forcing a regular automatic switch over to the back-up system. It was also stated that the back- up system as well, was also experiencing issues that are expected to be rectified today by an engineer.
Surgeries were halted at 3:00 pm that day. Patients were rescheduled to yesterday.
A few of the patients awaiting their turn to commence their surgeries expressed pleasure in the smooth process. They commended the staff at the institution for treating them well.
Sohan Rabindranauth, from East Canje Berbice, said that it was his first cataract surgery. He has been visiting the ophthalmology centre for check-ups since 2017.
He added that he got a call on Tuesday to visit the centre for surgery and was elated since he had been waiting for a very long time.
“I told them yes right away, and I came here Thursday early around 6:00 in the morning. I had li’l high pressure but the hospital took care of me since yesterday because I slept here.” Rabindranath said that the staff was very courteous. They were provided with snacks. “We had very good nurses and the doctors dem are very friendly and helpful. I can’t paint a picture that something is wrong when it is indeed a good thing”.
A female patient who was also waiting, Eulalia Mendonza, 80, of Nurney Village told this publication that it is her second surgery. She had done cataract surgery on her left eye in 2015 and was on the waiting list like everyone else to have her other eye done.
“Everything is different this time around as against the last time, It is more organized. The place set up nice and the treatment from the staff is very good,” Mendonza said.
Cataract surgeries are expected to continue next month when another volunteer mission comprising of over 20 doctors will visit the institute.
Close to 300 surgeries are expected to be done during that volunteer mission. The National Opthalmology Centre has been out of operation for a while with only minor corrective surgeries and laser surgeries being done.
However, much attention was paid to the institution and when cataract surgeries recommence, the facility was re-commissioned a few weeks ago.
Minister of Health Volda Lawrence had mentioned that $6M was spent on the centre to get it back into operation.
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