KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaicans continue to benefit under the Jamaica-Cuba Eye Care Programme with 1,230 sight-saving procedures conducted since September 2023.

The programme, which has been operating in Jamaica since 2010, resumed last September after being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, said that since the resumption, 368 cataract procedures have been performed,160 pterygium patients have been provided with surgical intervention, and another 702 persons have received laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy.

In addition, a total of 5,847 consultations have been conducted for preoperative, postoperative, and diabetic retinopathy treatment.

He was speaking during a tour of the St Joseph’s Hospital in St Andrew, which is one of two public health facilities where the programme operates. The other is the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH).

“I am very happy to report that [it] has been doing extremely well in terms of the number of patients that have been seen. On average, I am told that over 100 persons are seen per day for different reasons, and approximately 20 surgeries are done per day,” he informed.

“Persons have commented very positively on the personnel interaction, the customer service, the procedures and the results and how it has improved their vision. I am just very elated that with collaboration, we are able to help so many Jamaicans and will continue so to do,” Dr Tufton added.

The coordinator for the programme, Natasha Biggs, said that a 17-member team from Cuba is administering the treatment at both St Joseph’s and KPH.

“We have been working hand-in-hand with KPH since September of last year and it is planned to continue. This current team is here on a three-year contract,” she informed.

Cuba’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Fermîn Gabriel Quiñones Sanchéz, who was also on the tour, said the programme is a testament to the continued friendly relationship and spirit of collaboration between the two countries.

“We are happy to know that the patients are happy because a big problem [that they have is being solved] and that is why doctors are here working with the Jamaican population. I think, in a year, thousands of Jamaicans will be receiving surgeries and the problems that they are having with their eyes will be solved very soon.

“Cuban doctors will continue supporting Jamaican people. They have been here for many years and will continue to support the healthcare of the Jamaican population,” he added.

The Jamaica-Cuba Eye Care Programme aims to augment public health offerings by collaborating with Cuban specialists to offer support and share knowledge with local clinicians to improve the provision of critical eye care services to Jamaicans.

Discussions continue to facilitate the knowledge-sharing component of the programme.

-JIS