MORE than 3,000 pairs of reading, distant, and blue light glasses were distributed recently when the George Subraj Family Foundation took its signature health and eye care clinics to Region Nine, benefitting residents from far-flung villages in the region.

Some of the villagers also benefitted from sunglasses, according to Foundation member Richard B. Mahase, who is in Guyana coordinating the mission.

The Foundation, based in New York, continues to be passionate about providing healthcare services to Guyanese in need and would visit annually to conduct the outreaches with the help of local authorities.

This time around, the Foundation conducted the clinics at Annai, Shulinab and Lethem in collaboration with the regional authorities and Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Region Nine Regional Health Officer, Dr. Cerdel Mc Watt, observed that the response was excellent. “In fact, many residents felt that each one-day clinic at a particular venue was inadequate, but I am optimistic that GPHC and the Subraj Foundation would have noted the response and together, going forward, we can reach out to other communities.”

Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, GPHC, said that a number of cataract and glaucoma cases were identified and he was in coordination mode with Dr. Mc Watt to have these addressed.

Mahase told Guyana Chronicle that the mission was exhausting but memorable. “I was forewarned by Dr. Mc Watt that this was a needed service but never anticipated the turn out. However, at 10 am at our first clinic at Annai, Narash Torres, the Health Centre’s resident doctor, informed me that we had no more seating and that there were already over 200 residents in line. That set the benchmark for the entire weekend,” Mahase related.

He continued: “As the numbers escalated, our team in New York headed by the indefatigable Tony Subraj, President of the Subraj Foundation, set in motion mechanisms to bolster supplies so that no one would be turned away who was in need of glasses which our team was providing; or the eye drops prescribed by the doctor and optometrists on hand. Tony’s work in the US to make this possible cannot be understated. Without the adequate amount of supplies immediately available, I guess our reach would have been limited. Apart from eye tests, hypertension and glucose testing were also done.”

Attending were senior citizens, adults, children and officers of the Guyana Police Force. “Overall, I would like to emphasise that this was a team effort. Dr. Mc Watt, Dr. Torres, Dr. Petriana Surujpaul and Dr. Shelon Ambrose of Region Nine were the key coordinators among many other important supporters. It would not have been possible without their constant support and encouragement,” Mahase offered.

To complete the first mission of 2022, the Foundation’s final clinics are set for Numbers 40 and 41 Villages, West Coast Berbice and Number 57 Village, Corentyne, on March 5 and 6.