THE US military through the New Horizon Mission has completed 262 eye surgeries following the screening of some 313 patients at the National Ophthalmology Hospital (NOH), Port Mourant, East Berbice, Corentyne.

The announcement was made last Thursday by head of the New Horizon Mission, Major Dr. Andrew Lewis at a ceremony to conclude a two-week stay at the NOH.

The US team of 21, including 13 surgeons and eight support staff from various locations in the US, worked in collaboration with the staffers of the NOH. They performed around 40 surgeries per day.

This remarkable feat Major Lewis credits to the hard work of his team as well as the hard working team at the NOH. He also praised the quality of aftercare provided by staffers of the NOH and the Port Mourant Hospital.

Chief of Security Corporation Office, US Embassy, (Guyana), Lieutenant Commander Dan Stoica who spoke on behalf of US Ambassador Sarah Lynch, also lauded the work of the NOH staffers.

“In less than two weeks, the team with the support staff, what was accomplished in two weeks… 262, we tend to think about it in terms of number but let’s look at it in terms of lives changed – the gift of sight. Think about the children of these patients and the teachers who may return to class to continue teaching,” he said.

While humbled by the accomplishment, Commander Stoica also reminded of the importance of bilateral relations between the US and Guyana.

Joyce Marks, 72, of Fyrish Village, one of the beneficiaries of the surgery, was moved to tears as she expressed gratitude to the US medical team.

“You have done an excellent job for us Guyanese who were looking for a service that was badly needed. I want to thank you on behalf of all Guyanese you have attended to, we are very grateful. I ask that God will continue to bless you with the gift and knowledge that he has imparted on you all, not only for the benefit for yourself but for the benefit for all mankind that comes in contact with you.
Without these two little things called eyes, we are in a world of total and complete darkness,” Marks said.

Focal Point Coordinator Alex Foster in brief remarks praised the work of the Public Health Ministry in facilitating the environment for the surgeries.

“All the necessary factors needed to be put in place because you cannot operate on people’s eyes in a facility that is not up to standard because after the operation there will have to be care provided and in the midst of it we had a new director who came with a sense of energy, vision and commitment,” Foster said.

He added: “Today is a day of rejoicing, today is a day we look at what we can do, what is possible. I believe in the resuscitation of the NOH, to represent it, reproduce, to research, to release the energy of both the Cuban brigade and our local staff to resist the negativity that came our way to ensure we could have gotten results and in the process we could recognise the strength and ability in each one of us as we are proud to announce the results from the collaboration with the US and the Ministry of Public Health.”

Member of Parliament John Adams assured those gathered that the surgeries will continue as the ministry is committed to providing quality healthcare.

“We grateful for your presence in Guyana and for a job well done. We trust that the collaborative efforts that you have started will continue and that we will see this and other teams coming back to Guyana to help as we are here to provide the best quality of healthcare to the people. I want to assure that what you have started at Port Mourant will not stop but the MOPH will continue,” Adams said.