By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
OVER 100 successful cataract surgeries were performed in Grand Bahama through the second Bright Journey eye programme, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the People’s Republic of China.
The surgeries were provided free of charge to patients who received “the gift of sight” as an early Christmas present this year.
A nine-member ophthalmology team from China, along with counterparts in the Bahamas, completed the surgeries in six days without any complications to patients.
Health Minister Dr Perry Gomez said the programme was a success.
“On behalf of the government of the Bahamas and the people of the Bahamas, I express profound thanks to the team from the People’s Republic of China for their kind and generous assistance in performing the eye surgeries,” he said on Thursday evening during a farewell reception at the Grand Bahama Yacht Club.
He said the Bright Journey programme is a wonderful expression of the cooperation between the Bahamas government and China.
Dr Gomez said that due to the success of the first Bright Journey programme held in May 2014, they decided that a second one was needed.
“Over the past six days the surgical team has been working alongside RMH, has restored sight to more than 100 persons. By December 1, 80 surgeries had been performed, and when they were completed 102 persons had received an early Christmas present of vision through this programme,” he said.
Mr Gomez said the Bright Journey initiative is a significant illustration that access to healthcare is a basic human right.
“It should be a priority of governments all over the world. That is why I feel so passionate about National Health Insurance because healthcare is a fundamental right of all Bahamians regardless of how much money you have,” he said.
Mr Wang Quingjun, counsellor for the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, noted that the programme is a sign of the good relations shared between the Bahamas and China.
He commended the medical team from Peking University Hospital in China for travelling some 7,000 miles and performing surgeries under a very tight schedule.
During the farewell reception, the team also handed over ophthalmology medical equipment valued at over $147,000 to the Public Hospitals Authority and Grand Bahama Health Services from the Chinese government.
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