One hundred and twenty-six Agricola residents benefited from eye care when the Regional Health Services teamed with a number of vision care agencies to conduct an outreach exercise there on Wednesday.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, of the 126 persons who were treated for eye ailments, three were diagnosed with cataract, 12 with pterygium and 17 were suspected to have glaucoma and were referred to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre (DDC) for additional care. Twenty-four persons were tested by the refractionist and all were given prescription glasses and 15 were given reading glasses. An additional 32 persons were expected to be tested yesterday for reading and other glasses. GINA said 50 other persons were treated for other medical complaints.
The exercise was held in collaboration with the DDC, Low Vision Centre and Eye Care Guyana. Budgetary allocations have been made for similar initiatives in the ministry’s 2011 work programme, which facilitates the delivery of eye care within various communities.
National Director of Community Development Philomena Sahoye-Shury, who hails from Agricola, said she appreciates the staging of the outreach exercise in the community. She said such exercises are critical since there are persons who do not have the resources to access health care at the hospitals.
According to GINA, several residents expressed appreciation for the exercise though many said more needs to be done to meet the needs of shut-ins, including elderly residents who cannot leave their homes.
