Rege Andrew, Gleaner Writer
Dr. Richard Duffey (centre) and his team conduct a corneal transplant on 15-year-old Ricardo Bromfield in the operating theatre on the Orbis Flying Hospital DC 10 Airbus after the official opening ceremony for the teams arrival in Jamaica at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICAN AND other regional ophthalmologists are currently gaining valuable knowledge in modern eye surgery, and local patients will be receiving quality service, due to the continuing implementation of the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital Programme.
Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller, director - cooperation, international health, in the Ministry of Health, told The Gleaner yesterday that the health department has had long-running discussions with ORBIS. Initially, the Flying Eye Hospital programme was started in Jamaica in 1982.
"The programme's primary purpose is to build capacity, in terms of training for both private and public sector eye care providers," said Dr. Lewis-Fuller, "to improve the clinical acumen for the eye care professionals in Jamaica and so give better service to our clients."
Flying Eye Hospital made its seventh visit to the region yesterday in an effort to transfer sight-saving techniques to Caribbean eye care professionals. During the opening ceremony held on the tarmac at the Norman Manley International Airport, participants were given an outline of the programme.
The eye care programme is coordinated by the Ministry of Health, the Jamaica Ophthalmology Society and Ophthalmology Society of the West Indies. It provides ophthalmic training in an effort to deal with the country's leading causes of blindness, including cataract, glaucoma, retinal diseases and ocular trauma. It also aims to strengthen the support system in primary eye care, ophthalmic nursing and biomedical engineering in Jamaica.
The intensive two-week skills-exchange programme runs until February 3, and involves 100 regional eye care professionals working alongside 12 ORBIS volunteer eye specialists from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada onboard the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital.
The ophthalmologist select the patients based on the nature of the surgery they want to perform.
SURGERY ONBOARD THE PLANE
Dr. Lewis-Fuller said that more than 50 patients were selected to undergo surgery onboard the plane, and others will be treated at the Bustamante Hospital for Children and the Kingston Public Hospital.
Also, a team of ophthalmologists is currently visiting the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where they work in association with medical practitioner, Dr. Claudine Green, and are treating patients.
Dr. Gordon Douglas, medical director, ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, said the mission was concerned with continuing medical and nursing education.
"Specifically, with the plane, VC10 and Flying Eye Hospital, it is a vehicle for taking professional people and putting them together in a situation where they can share ideas," he said.
