Dear Editor,
Despite an eye clinic service being in operation at the Suddie Hospital in Region # 2 there is much need for it to be provided with facilities to deal with cataract which ultimately leads to blindness and surgery for being the only effective remedy. Presently, residents from Regions # 1 and # 2 who are so affected have been advised just like myself to go to G.P.H.C. where the surgery can be done free of any charges. But in so doing, a big problem arises in the extremely long drawn out process to get into the compound more so with no hope whatsoever to reach the doctor. Amazingly, a long line with hundreds of people can be seen trying to get in to reach a doctor before it becomes “a go back and come back situation” with precious money and valuable time being wasted while having to endure unbearable hardship and inconvenience all the time. Out of frustration, many persons just go away and never to return after being unable to endure the difficulties being faced with to reach a doctor.
It is well known that persons with money will pay to get their surgery done at private hospitals in the city with the charges from my own experience ranging between one hundred and fifty thousand and two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. But what will become of the impecunious ones is yet to be seen. Only God will have to help them. My humble suggestion is that the clinic centre should take responsibility to provide ambulance transportation for all those who need surgery to the G.P.H.C. instead of sending them on their own. Arrangements could then be made for a surgery date probably on a monthly basis and for them to be provided with similar transportation to return home obviously they would be delighted to get such treatment. After all a good sight is important to everyone.
Sincerely,
Baliram Persaud
