The National Ophthalmology Hospital in Port Mourant, Berbice saw over 11,000 patients for various eye aliments in 2009, according to a Government Information Agency release.

The hospital which was opened on February 9 of last year is said to have conducted some 990 surgeries of which 168 were for cataract, 975 for pterygium and 14 laser surgeries.

The facility is part of expanded cooperation in the area of health between the Guyana and Cuban governments. It is currently staffed with Cubans until medical students, who are training in Cuba, return.

The focus on eye care in Guyana is a part of the Ministry of Health’s primary health care initiative to provide eye care services, GINA said, and the hospital is expected to conduct some 10,000 surgeries per year, catering for persons from neighbouring countries as well.

Prior to the hospital, Guyanese benefited from eye surgeries from the Guyana/Cuba ‘Mission Miracle’ programme which has enabled corrective eye surgeries for many persons in the country since 2006.