A visiting doctor and nurse from Ghana have been performing cataract surgeries at the National Ophthalmology Hospital (NOH) at Port Mourant, Corentyne.
The doctor in charge of the hospital, Dr Devendra Radhay, confirmed this to Stabroek News yesterday and disclosed that the team, which visited for three days, carried out a total of 17 surgeries.
According to Dr Radhay, another team from overseas is slated to visit early next month and is expected to perform several hundred cataract surgeries. It is anticipated that this will make an immense dent in the current backlog of close to 800 cases. However, it was noted that the list has not been updated in a while and persons who may have passed away or had their surgeries done remain on the list.
Further, he said, the NOH is also working to have a third team visit to perform more cataract surgeries as well as work along with doctors attached to the hospital to lay the foundation for the facility to be able to perform at least 20 surgeries per month after their departure.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News was told that persons from throughout Berbice, including from along Berbice River and Orealla, benefitted from the three-day visit by the Ghanaian duo.
Patients yesterday were very happy after they finally received a call to visit the hospital to have their surgeries done. The patients who visited the hospital on Thursday but could not get their surgeries completed due to an electrical issue stayed overnight at the hospital. They said they were treated very well and spoke of how professional and kind the staff were in performing their duties.
One patient, Terrence Arthur, 75, of New Amsterdam, who was awaiting to get his cataract surgery done yesterday, said, “The process is a change. You can see uniformity, things have become more streamlined…to me they are doing a very good job.”
Sohan Rabindranauth of East Canje, Berbice, explained that he had one cataract
surgery done privately in 2017. “I come Thursday…I had high pressure. The hospital take care of me since yesterday. I sleep overnight here and the staff is very courteous. We have some really good nurses and the doctors them too,” he said.
Eulalie Mendonza, 80, of Nurney Village, Corentyne, who was waiting her turn yesterday, said that she had one cataract surgery done in 2015. Comparing the process, Mendoza said, “Everything different, it very different, more organised and the place set up nice and so, the staff very good and speak nice and so.”
