The government, through the Ministry of Health and the Sir Lester Bird Medical
Centre (SLBMC), held another successful Cataract Surgery Clinic last week,
during which over one hundred patients received free life-changing cataract
surgeries.
In a media release, the SLBMC said the latest cataract clinic formed part of its
mission of transforming lives.
The clinic—held May 21 to 28 and supported by the Ministry of Health and
Wellness,—helped individuals who could not afford to pay for cataract surgery or
get the vision-correcting care they need.
“There is no way to prevent cataract formation; a condition where the lens of the
eye becomes cloudy and eventually results in vision loss. Surgical treatment is
necessary to replace the clouded lens and restore lost sight. There are many
working people who need cataract surgery, but can’t afford to pay for it,” explains
Dr. Osama Dias, SLBMC Ophthalmologist.
He continued, “The goal is to eradicate blindness due to cataracts in our country
and bring as many people as possible from blindness to useful productive lives.
Working along with our colleagues from a Trinidad Eye Hospital, we’ve been able
to restore sight to hundreds of people whose blindness was not only devastating to
them as individuals, it was also a burden on their families. No one in Antigua and
Barbuda should have to go without needed cataract surgery due to finances. In my
estimation, this is simply one of the most impactful programs of our hospital—And
we’re doing everything we can to ensure that the people in our community who
need this support, get it.”
