Photo by Dwight Nelson
Dr Bertila Perez performs an eye test on Eulalee Walters while Claudetta Yearde, the free clinics project coordinator, looks on. In the background is Cuban coordinator Dr Delfria.

MAY PEN, Clarendon:

More than 250 persons were screened over a three-day period, which ended yesterday, at the Lionel Town Health Centre in Clarendon.

The free screenings were done under the Jamaica-Cuba Eye-Care Project.

The project, a bilateral project between the Government of Jamaica and Cuba, provides help for patients with cataract, ptergyum, strabisum and ptosis.

According to Claudetta Yearde, project coordinator, "Our aim up to November 24 of this year is to complete the southern region, which encompasses Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth, so that we can identify persons with the four pathologies we are looking for."

More than 20 persons were selected for surgery in Cuba early next year while others needed further evaluation.

"It's a very good programme because it helps a lot of us who are not able to afford it," said Warren Grey, a patient."We are very appreciative of this project between Cuba and Jamaica."

- Dwight Nelson