By Byron McDaniel, Gleaner WriterWALDERSTON, Manchester:
HUNDREDS OF people from throughout the island have been flocking to the Percy Junor Public Hospital, Spaldings, Manchester, since January 10, for treatment of various eye disorders.
The medical assistance is being offered by a 55-member team of specialists from Medical Ministry International (MMI) of Canada and the United States.
On January 12, people began arriving at the hospital from as early as 4 a.m. and by mid-morning a queue of more than 400 people stretched from the hospital to a helicopter pad about 100 metres away.
The team, which is made up of opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists, can administer eye care to up to 600 a day.
The team offers eye screenings and major and minor operations. In addition, hundreds of reading glasses were donated each day.
READING GLASSES
Inez Foster, a 77-year-old widow of Village district, who received a pair of new reading glasses, told The Gleaner: "I only pay to register and quick, quick they tested my eyes and give me these glasses... God bless them."
A member of the visiting team said: "This is an opportunity to serve Jesus Christ by providing spiritual and physical health care in this world of need."
The group will leave on Friday to continue on a worldwide tour.
Stanhope Scott, chief executive officer of the hospital said, "We are pleased to be able to accommodate and facilitate the eye team as they provide eye care services to Spaldings and the wider community, and particularly the poor and needy in our society."
Mr. Scott said prospective patients were required to pay $200 for registration, $1,000 for laser treatment and $5,000 for surgery. Eye tests were conducted and glasses distributed at no cost.
Another patient was impressed with the work of the team. "It cost me only $5,000 to remove a cataract from my right eye and implant a lens and this would cost $40,000 locally," said Washington McDaniel.
