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STEPHANIE Bartholomew, a fifty-year-old woman who resides in Annai, North Rupununi, Region Nine is once again able to see after three years due to an intervention by Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran.
The very emotional woman said she is forever in debt to the Ministry of Health for helping to restore her vision. She was very thankful to the Minister of Health and the President, along with the surgeons of the National Ophthalmology hospital at Port Mourant, Berbice and all others who helped restore her sight.
Minister Ramsaran visited Annai in June, during a health outreach and upon hearing of the minister’s presence, Stephanie’s husband, Richard Bartholomew, wasted no time in approaching him about his wife’s condition. Upon telling the story of how his wife became blind three years ago, measures were put in place for the couple to travel to Region Four for Stephanie to receive medical assistance.
He acknowledged that the medical teams would visit sometimes, but when his wife sought treatment she was told that nothing was wrong with her eyes. However, every time a team visited she would return for assistance because her vision became blurred as time progressed, but was always told the same thing, until she became blind. He said this affected them greatly since his wife was unable to do her daily chores such as sewing, which she did for a living or even have a regular life.
The Ministry of Health provided funding for the couple to travel to Region Four where Stephanie was examined at the Diamond Regional Diagnostic Hospital. The doctors there, upon realising the severity of the problem, immediately transferred her to the Ophthalmology Hospital.
After examination there she was diagnosed with cataract and an infection was also discovered in her eye, which she was treated for prior to undergoing surgery on July 14.
After a successful operation there is once again light in Stephanie’s life. She is now able to see in her right eye. She now awaits another surgery for her left eye which is scheduled to be conducted in three months.
The Ophthalmology Hospital, being the first of its kind in the Caribbean, opened its doors on February 9, 2009. This US$13 million hospital was constructed as part of the ministry’s focus on eye-care in Guyana.
Since its inauguration, this hospital has brought light back into hundreds of individuals’ lives. (GINA)
The very emotional woman said she is forever in debt to the Ministry of Health for helping to restore her vision. She was very thankful to the Minister of Health and the President, along with the surgeons of the National Ophthalmology hospital at Port Mourant, Berbice and all others who helped restore her sight.
Minister Ramsaran visited Annai in June, during a health outreach and upon hearing of the minister’s presence, Stephanie’s husband, Richard Bartholomew, wasted no time in approaching him about his wife’s condition. Upon telling the story of how his wife became blind three years ago, measures were put in place for the couple to travel to Region Four for Stephanie to receive medical assistance.
He acknowledged that the medical teams would visit sometimes, but when his wife sought treatment she was told that nothing was wrong with her eyes. However, every time a team visited she would return for assistance because her vision became blurred as time progressed, but was always told the same thing, until she became blind. He said this affected them greatly since his wife was unable to do her daily chores such as sewing, which she did for a living or even have a regular life.
The Ministry of Health provided funding for the couple to travel to Region Four where Stephanie was examined at the Diamond Regional Diagnostic Hospital. The doctors there, upon realising the severity of the problem, immediately transferred her to the Ophthalmology Hospital.
After examination there she was diagnosed with cataract and an infection was also discovered in her eye, which she was treated for prior to undergoing surgery on July 14.
After a successful operation there is once again light in Stephanie’s life. She is now able to see in her right eye. She now awaits another surgery for her left eye which is scheduled to be conducted in three months.
The Ophthalmology Hospital, being the first of its kind in the Caribbean, opened its doors on February 9, 2009. This US$13 million hospital was constructed as part of the ministry’s focus on eye-care in Guyana.
Since its inauguration, this hospital has brought light back into hundreds of individuals’ lives. (GINA)
