The Health Ministry has been making efforts to create its own cadre of Guyanese ophthalmologists, and thus far, this has been a successful venture.
One eye doctor returned last year from Bangladesh while two departed for Guatemala in January; and another doctor, Celeste Haynes, left at the weekend for Paraguay.
The latest ophthalmology scholarship was provided by EyeCare Guyana and EyeCare Caribbean, which have been partnering with Guyana to provide eye care services.
These efforts are in tandem with the Health Ministry’s thrust of ensuring the provision of quality eye-care services to all Guyanese, Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said during a meeting with Dr. Haynes prior to her departure.
Dr. Haynes, who hails from Henrietta, Essequibo Coast, Region Two, returned to Guyana in 2009 from Cuba, and has served at the Suddie and Charity hospitals and the Queenstown health centre.
Dr. Ramsaran explained that sending Guyanese doctors to receive ophthalmology training is critical to enhancing Guyana’s manpower in that area, since mostly Cuban specialists are functioning in that field here.
These provisions indicate that the health sector is making available opportunities for health caregivers to advance themselves in the field, particularly through specialized study.
Dr. Ramsaran disclosed that in 2012, three more ophthalmology scholarships will be made available.
He emphasised that Guyana has a robust eye-care programme, which allows hundreds of Guyanese to access services free of cost. Apart from accessing services at the diagnostic centres, citizens also benefit from outreach programmes which target outlying communities.
Since its opening in 2009, the National Ophthalmology Hospital, Port Mourant, Region Six, has been successful in delivering quality services. This is reflected in the period January to December 2010, during which there were more than 11,500 consultations and 8,450 surgeries for cataracts, pterygium, laser surgeries, minor surgeries and refractions. (GINA)