Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan launched the ministry'sCataract Surgeries Reduction programme Sunday at the Port of Spain general Hospital. It is a joint effort of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the North West Regional Health Authority.
The programme is intended to complete 300 surgeries by the end of the year. Khan said the programme "is meant to reduce the number of persons on the waiting list for cataract surgery in both regions."
He added, "Currently the waiting list at the Port of Spain General Hospital spans one year and the waiting list at Sangre Grande Hospital is four years," Khan said.
He explained that "only those with no medical complications such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar or heart complications would be operated on."
Khan added, "patients must be willing to walk in and out of surgery without having to be warded. All other patients, would be facilitated on the regular list."
The minister said the three most common conditions that cause eye impairment in Trinidad & Tobago are are glaucoma, diabetes and cataracts.
Khan said, "There is a high success rate for vision preservation with persons requiring cataract surgery."
Stating that although his ministry has undertaken sponsorship of the programme, the Ophthalmologist Society and attending private ophthalmologists must be congratulated for agreeing to waive their fees for performing the cataract surgeries.
The programme is being coordinated by Dr Shahanez Mohammed, consultant at the Eye Department and Dr Jankie Sasenarine, Registrar of the Port of Spain General Hospital.
Stating that although his ministry has undertaken sponsorship of the programme, the Ophthalmologist Society and attending private ophthalmologists must be congratulated for agreeing to waive their fees for performing the cataract surgeries.
The programme is being coordinated by Dr Shahanez Mohammed, consultant at the Eye Department and Dr Jankie Sasenarine, Registrar of the Port of Spain General Hospital.
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