I am happy to see that we are making strides in certain medical procedures which are commonplace in some of our more developed sister Caricom states. I noted articles by our independent dailies (SN and KN of November 10, 2010) on the corneal graft operations done at the GPHC. I take it that it was the first such operation done at the GPHC but when both articles stated that it was the first time this procedure was done in Guyana, I am making a small correction.
Over 15 years ago, a very prominent ophthalmologist operated out of the Woodlands Hospital and saw many high profile patients including two of our late presidents. His popular name was Dr Alphonso but his surname was Eguiguren or a name spelt close to this. I was told he was a native of Ecuador and seemed to have had wide connections.
Some time around 1994-1995, my father became one of his patients and this noted specialist recommended a cornea transplant. Naturally at that time I could not conceptualise this happening, and sought a conversation with him, since it was my father’s eyes we are talking about here. He assured me that the procedure would be handled here by him and that though he was not god he tried his best with the work he did with reasonable success. I felt the cockiness in his voice and agreed for the old man to undergo the procedure.
Just as was reported in the articles, he had a contact in the USA who would extract a good cornea from a donor who had just passed, and airfreight same into Guyana for surgery. He said as soon as he got word of a donor he would inform my father who would enter the hospital the same afternoon for surgery the next day. The time between extraction to recipient implantation should not be greater than 24 hours. In those days things like these sound like magic, but in good systems and efficient personnel these things operate like clockwork.
The donor was found, the doctor was informed, my dad went into the hospital in the afternoon and the next day the surgery was performed. Just as mentioned in the two articles and like the men operated on, within a short period my father was discharged with the bandage on his eyes.
I am glad the surgeries done recently were free, but in those days the surgery fee was $180,000 – quite a lot of money at that time for the average citizen.
One interesting fact that should not be glossed over is that all the men were farmers, and in Mr Franklin’s case, he works in the cane fields as my father did. Dr Norton said that the cane trash more than likely could have precipitated the damage to the cornea. I verily believe that many people may have lost sight due to this factor but not much attention has been given to the issue.
So when our cane harvesters and other sugar workers make noises about their emoluments, we should show greater empathy and lend solidarity.
Yours faithfully,
Orrin Gordon
