Friday, January 06, 2006
Cubans to continue `Mission Miracle’ here
THE Cuban eye programme started here in July last year and under which some 2,000 Guyanese have already benefited, is continuing this year, Dr Bheri Ramsarran, Director of Regional Health Services in the Health Ministry said yesterday.
The programme, called `Mission Miracle’ or `Operation Miracle’, is a joint Cuba-Venezuela project which aims to provide eye care to some 80,000 citizens of Latin America and the Caribbean.
It is heavily funded by the Venezuelan Government with Cuba providing the eye specialists and surgeons to examine, screen and operate on the selected patients, Ramsarran said in a press release.
The examination and screening exercise is done in the country where the prospective patients reside and the `host’ countries assist in varying degrees in funding the activities related to `Mission Miracle’ in their territory.
`Mission Miracle’ arrived in Guyana in July last year and by December, some 12,000 Guyanese were screened for eye diseases, Ramsarran reported.
He said that of these, some 2,000 have already been sent to Havana, Cuba, for eye surgery.
About 60% of these persons had cataract surgery done in Havana, he said.
`Mission Miracle’ is totally free of cost for Guyanese patients and the Guyana Government gives each patient going to Cuba Cdn$50 as a “pocket piece”, he noted.
Ramsarran said the Guyana Government has so far spent some $25M in providing support for the Miracle team and the patients in Guyana.
The Cuban doctors have visited more than 20 locations to reduce the burden on poor people.
“In this way the patients avoid paying for transportation and accommodation in Georgetown”, the Director pointed out.
The Cuban doctors are accompanied by Guyanese support personnel, including an Immigration Officer whose task is to facilitate patients who do not have passports, he said.
Ramsarran added that this initiative is especially welcomed by rural residents and Amerindians.
Locations visited include Suddie, Linden, Kwakwani, Bartica, Lethem, Aishalton, Annai, the West Demerara Regional Hospital, Leguan, Wales, Blairmont, Mahaicony and Enmore.
Ramsarran said `Mission Miracle’ will continue this year under the coordination of the Regional Health Services Office.
Copyright GNNL November 2005- Designed, Developed and Maintained by GNNL MIS Department
Cubans to continue `Mission Miracle’ here
THE Cuban eye programme started here in July last year and under which some 2,000 Guyanese have already benefited, is continuing this year, Dr Bheri Ramsarran, Director of Regional Health Services in the Health Ministry said yesterday.
The programme, called `Mission Miracle’ or `Operation Miracle’, is a joint Cuba-Venezuela project which aims to provide eye care to some 80,000 citizens of Latin America and the Caribbean.
It is heavily funded by the Venezuelan Government with Cuba providing the eye specialists and surgeons to examine, screen and operate on the selected patients, Ramsarran said in a press release.
The examination and screening exercise is done in the country where the prospective patients reside and the `host’ countries assist in varying degrees in funding the activities related to `Mission Miracle’ in their territory.
`Mission Miracle’ arrived in Guyana in July last year and by December, some 12,000 Guyanese were screened for eye diseases, Ramsarran reported.
He said that of these, some 2,000 have already been sent to Havana, Cuba, for eye surgery.
About 60% of these persons had cataract surgery done in Havana, he said.
`Mission Miracle’ is totally free of cost for Guyanese patients and the Guyana Government gives each patient going to Cuba Cdn$50 as a “pocket piece”, he noted.
Ramsarran said the Guyana Government has so far spent some $25M in providing support for the Miracle team and the patients in Guyana.
The Cuban doctors have visited more than 20 locations to reduce the burden on poor people.
“In this way the patients avoid paying for transportation and accommodation in Georgetown”, the Director pointed out.
The Cuban doctors are accompanied by Guyanese support personnel, including an Immigration Officer whose task is to facilitate patients who do not have passports, he said.
Ramsarran added that this initiative is especially welcomed by rural residents and Amerindians.
Locations visited include Suddie, Linden, Kwakwani, Bartica, Lethem, Aishalton, Annai, the West Demerara Regional Hospital, Leguan, Wales, Blairmont, Mahaicony and Enmore.
Ramsarran said `Mission Miracle’ will continue this year under the coordination of the Regional Health Services Office.
Copyright GNNL November 2005- Designed, Developed and Maintained by GNNL MIS Department
