Forty-two patients who left Guyana recently for Cuba under the Cuba/Venezuela ‘Mission Miracle’ programme are back home after having undergone surgery successfully.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the patients were grateful for the opportunity to access treatment. Bridget Rose who had suffered from cataract in one eye and had been unable to see from the affected eye said, “It was totally covered with cataract. Thanks to the government …I can see now without my glasses.” The woman also said, “the hospitality received from the Cubans was heartening.”
According to GINA the programme was re-introduced to fill the need until the Port Mourant Ophthalmology Centre becomes operable. Another batch of patients left for Cuba recently. Cuba’s Chargé d’Affaires, Pedro Arteaga said since the restart of ‘Mission Miracle’ 39 Guyanese have undergone eye surgery in Cuba; mainly for cataract and have returned in good health. He said two patients will undergo surgery for retinitis pigmentosa (a genetic eye condition). Arteaga also said that equipment will be arriving soon for the Ophthalmology Centre which will allow Guyana to treat persons from throughout the Caribbean who suffer from eye ailments.
Coordinator of Mission Miracle under Regional Health Services, Ministry of Health Donna Welcome said the programme will continue until the Ophthalmology Centre is completed.
The Cuba-Venezuela ‘Mission Miracle’ project is an initiative designed to allow persons from Latin America and the Caribbean to access free eye health care. The programme has been conducted in Guyana, Europe, the United States, Africa and other Caribbean countries. At the end of December 2007, 40,000 Guyanese were able to access eye care treatment in Cuba.