News
JAM | Sep 14, 2023

Jamaica to welcome 18 more Cuban doctors to bolster eye care programme

Tamoy Ashman

Tamoy Ashman / Our Today

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton. (OUR TODAY photo)

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton says 18 additional Cuban doctors will arrive in Jamaica between October and November to facilitate the full resumption of the Jamaica Cuban Eye Care Programme.

The programme had resumed after the arrival of nine members from the Cuban team in July. Tufton said the additional 18 members will complete the cadre needed to perform optical surgeries on patients.

“Clients on the registry of the Jamaica Cuba Eye Care Programme are now being contacted to determine if the need for surgery still exists. Some 6,458 clients have been assessed so far, and 5,863 have been deemed to be still in need of surgery,” he shared while speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (September 13).

He added that clients are also being screened at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) for procedures to address the backlog of surgeries at the health institution. The programme involves undertaking cataract procedures, diabetic retinopathy, and pterygium surgeries.

A total of 528 patients were screened. One hundred and fifty-five patients are preparing for cataract surgery, while 132 have been screened for diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, 180 have received laser treatments, and 10 pterygium surgeries have been completed.

“The agreement has had some adjustments where the position is for the collaboration to include Jamaica providing the source material for the team. They bring the expertise they bring sometimes some equipment in some instances, we provide ongoing material, and what we expect or anticipate is that there’ll be a sort of improvement in terms of treatment,” shared Tufton.

Additionally, he said the programme will be moved to the St Joseph Hospital, where rehabilitation efforts are ongoing to facilitate the transition. Tufton said work will be completed by November 1.

The Jamaica Cuban Eye Care Programme was suspended in February 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expiry of the contract period.

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COVID-19 Cuba Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton Jamaica Jamaica Cuban Eye Care Programme Kingston Public Hospital Ministry of Health and Wellness

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