Free cataract surgery demand overwhelming, says health official in response to ‘false’ rumour

In an update provided to Old Harbour News the health ministry’s data debunked claims circulating on social media that the Bright Journey Medical Mission, a bilateral partnership agreement between the People’s Republic of China and Jamaica to provide free cataract surgeries to Jamaicans, could be aborted early due to insufficient numbers.

But Shuwana Johnson, communications officer at the South East Regional Health Authority told Old Harbour News that the information circulating is false before providing the latest figures as at April 11.

Johnson said there has been an overwhelming response from the public for the free surgery. However, she pointed out that some patients had to forego the operation due to other underlining medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and glaucoma, which they the individuals were unaware of.

Based on the data supplied the medical team is well on course to achieve its target of completing over 500 cataract surgeries.

The month-long mission started April 2 and is scheduled to end April 27 following which the team will depart the island.

During the period, the 50-member team, comprising ophthalmologists, nurses, and technical support staff, including biomedical engineers, will perform cataract surgeries on more than 500 Jamaicans at KPH.

KPH staff will also undergo modern training in new technology to ensure the sustainability of the work being undertaken by the team from China.

Senior medical officer (SMO) at the hospital, Dr. Natalie Whylie, said that while the mission is focused on performing surgeries, the training component exists to ensure that the work will continue after the team has left.

“The technical team, nurses, doctors and technicians are working alongside our KPH team. There is that exchange of information and technical expertise so that at the end of this mission, the gift of the Chinese people to the Jamaican people will be sustainable,” Whylie said upon the arrival of the team in Jamaica on March 27.

“We are training trainers because the opthalmology department is an important site of postgraduate training. We are part of the Doctor of Medicine programme of the University Hospital of the West Indies, so as we work alongside our Chinese counterparts, we will, in turn, continue that training, and as a result, the gift of the mission will continue.”