The Chinese Embassy in Kingston is reporting that the Bright Journey Eye Care Mission successfully carried out 506 cataract surgeries up to April 24, two days before the end of their visit.

The performance is in keeping with an announcement by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, two weeks ago, that the 11-member Chinese technical team was on track to exceed its target of 500 free surgeries at Kingston Public Hospital.

The team, which arrived in Kingston at approximately 8:00 pm on March 27, comprised five ophthalmologists, three nurses, two engineers, and one technician.

According to the Chinese Embassy, the team went to the KPH at 8:00 am on March 28 to set up a communication channel and working mechanism with the hospital staff.

“On that very day, Ms Wang Wei, technician, successfully repaired an ophthalmic equipment which is worth about US$230,000. Before that, the equipment was out of use for two years,” the embassy said.

The Chinese team worked from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm daily. “In the first week the team members, because of jet lag and high-intensity work, fell sick, but they still kept on working. They used their lunch break to have Q&A sessions for the patients, and have academic exchanges with local doctors,” the embassy said.

The embassy also highlighted the relentless determination of nurse Wu Jun, who got gastroenteritis but worked continuously for 35 operations. In addition, technician Wang Wei got acute laryngitis but kept working, screening 83 patients.

According to the embassy, the mission’s success was due to the fact that the doctors found a way to perform the operations in the shortest possible time.

Here are photo highlights of the mission.