Declaring open the $140 million National Ophthalmology Centre at Port Mourant, Corentyne yesterday Presi-dent Bharrat Jagdeo said that government’s first priority is to provide better health services to residents.
Addressing a gathering which included government ministers and health professionals of Cuba, the President expressed gratitude to the Cubans for the “tremendous help that you are giving us in helping to improve the lives of people.”
He recalled that just before the Cuba-Venezuela Mission Miracle project started he had set aside $30 million in the budget and had said to the Minister of Health [Dr Leslie Ramsammy] that they should start by giving out free spectacles.
Recruits “from around the world” were then hired to provide additional services but those persons were taking a long time to deal with the cases, he said.
Jorge Rodriguez, Charge D’Affairs, Cuban Embassy and Minister in the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsarran signing the Guyana-Cuba agreement.
After that a “miracle happened” three years ago and he was asked to visit Cuba to discuss sending persons there to have free eye care.
With the opening of the centre however, the first of its kind in the Caribbean, he said patients with eye ailments such as corrective refractive error, cataract, glaucoma, retinopathy, retina detachment would no longer have to travel to Cuba but would be treated there.
The centre, which is being manned by specialist staff from Cuba, was built under a Guyana/Cuba health sector agreement sealed in early 2006. It is expected that patients from neighbouring countries will also seek treatment there.
The President said that the “historic location” at Port Mourant was chosen with Suriname in mind because people from there can access the service easily. He said government wants to ensure that the facility keeps working and providing services to people, regardless of which country patients come from.
He said that despite limited resources, government has placed emphasis on health care as well as education, pointed out that “we believe that if you have healthy people and you educate them well in this globalized world they would be able to achieve prosperity…”
As an economist, he said, he is pleased with major economic achievements and facilities like the ophthalmology centre which serves people every day, gives him great satisfaction.
He related too that he had mentioned to the then President of the United States of America, George W. Bush that if the government was to send the students who are studying in Cuba to a US institution, it would have cost US$75 million.
He also said that the US would not have given the students that opportunity because their “system fails when it comes to monetized version of the Cuban’s assistance to Guyana”.
In that vein, the President said his government would “continue to advocate for Cuba to be given its rightful place in the international community so that it would not face discriminatory practices at the global level because we see Cuba as a dear friend.”
The centre will also make use of micro-incisions for treating some of the conditions, which will allow some patients to be discharged the same day as they undergo the treatment as such incisions heal faster.
Dr Bheri Ramsarran, Minister within the Ministry of Health who gave an overview of the project said the centre had started to operate on February 9 with limited services.
He said that the location was also chosen because the existing hospital was underutilized and lacked personnel and resources. He said at times the institution would just have about five to eight patients and the centre was established to change that.
He too emphasized the good relationship between Guyana and Cuba and said that based on that four diagnostic centres were built at Diamond, Mahaicony, Leonora and Suddie on the Essequibo Coast.
In his remarks, Jorge Rodriguez, Charge d’Affaires at the Cuban Embassy said that the launching of the centre was Cuba’s “expression of gratitude…” He also said that it was done in memory of the late president of Guyana, Dr Cheddi Jagan who hailed from that area.
During the ceremony Ramsarran and Rodriguez signed the Guyana-Cuba agreement.
The team along with the media was given a tour of the facility following the unveiling of the plaque and the cutting of the ribbon to declare it open.
Where are all those anti-government bloggers and those AFC supporters?Guess you guys don’t comment on positives.
They seem to sleep late and even hybernate when these developments progress. You know, it’s heart breaking when they have to see that the Dictators they supported did nothing during there 28 yrs. ERROR, (not era, ERROR)and now BIG things are happening by others. They’re in a sleeping slumber.
I am ashamed to agree with you, Marc.
What is wrong with the Guyanese?
One would think that after Guyanese left Guyana for foreign shores; their horizons would have been widened. That they would have burned their back-biting bridges behind them and be willing to pull together to return positive input to their motherland.
Who would have thought that poor Guyana would one day be looking to expand into Medical Tourism. God bless the originators of this scheme and best wishes for a successful future.
hey that is awee berbice abee eye go see bright now,
Where are those anti govt people who always cry crocodile tears wanting to see progress in Guyana, maybe too much tears affecting their sight, this is good for Guyana and I thank Stabroek for allowing some positive things happening in Guyana to pass its filter.
Thank you for printing this article. Brandon Samaroo, the Government has done NOTHING in 17 years?
This is indeed one good for Guyana. The government must be commended where due and this is one of the oppertunities.
Excellent development! No need to travel to GT or overseas when I or my relatives have any eye problems. Plus free treatment. My tax-paying dollars at work. Keep it up.
SASE,.. you thanking SN, for printing the story?… I do hope you’re being SARCASTIC,.. SN, PROBABLY RUN OUT OF MURDERS FOR TODAY…SASE, if you read the Chronicle, nearly every day there is a story of positive developement, in guyana… that does not interest SN, or its majority clientele… so don’t look out for more,.. … bet their HITS, today, would be at an all time low…. ha,ha .
wey samoron and the others dey? they still will chant no progress! no progress!
It’s a good gesture but should have been built more centrally for all.
Congratulations to the Governments of Guyana and Cuba for providing an Opthamology Centre for the people of Guyana. They would no longer have to travel abroad to seek medical help for thei eye problems.
I hope that the Government would see it fit to offer this service to other countries in Caribbean at an affordable price.