NASSAU, The Bahamas – One hundred and sixteen cataract patients will be the beneficiaries of surgical intervention to restore eyesight thanks to the Second Bright Journey Project, a collaborative effort between the Governments of The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China.
The two countries, today, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that would assist in restoring the sight of 116 patients who suffer from the effects of cataracts.
The Hon. Dr. Perry Gomez, Minister of Health, said: “My desire for the Bright Journey to become a template for future collaborative efforts between The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China has been realized where the expertise and resources of nations and regions can be brought to bear across borders to improve the lives and health of ordinary citizens.”
Bahamian and Chinese health professionals will perform the surgeries at the Rand Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Freeport, Grand Bahama, from November 25th to December 5th, 2015.
The patients would be from Grand Bahama, Abaco, Bimini, and the Berry Islands. The team comprises health care professionals and support personnel with specialties in ophthalmology from Princess Margaret Hospital and Peking University First Hospital in Beijing. The programme will be coordinated by Dr. Paul Ward, Medical Chief of Staff at RMH.
In 2014 the surgical team performed 101 cataract surgeries during a similar exercise, which was conducted at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Minister Gomez said, “the exercise was described as being very successful as it improved the quality of the lives of many individuals from New Providence and the Family Islands who would otherwise not have been in a financial position to afford such cataract surgeries.”
On completion of the project the Rand Memorial Hospital will be the benefactor of the gift of approximately $155,000 in equipment, instruments, medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.
The Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister for Grand Bahama, explained that the project was presented by the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, during a Heads of State meeting in Trinidad and Tobago in 2013.
Dr. Darville said, “the President had a vision, which encompassed the assistance of those in the Caribbean who had cataract deficiencies; and he pledged to see this vision actualized by sending 100 medical professionals to the region to help treat those persons that were in need. As the health and well-being of Bahamians is of paramount importance to this administration, this pledge was accepted by Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Perry Christie, and led the way for the beginning of a new partnership within the healthcare systems of our countries.”
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Yuan Guisen said the agreement is a continuation of the “friendly cooperation” between The Bahamas and China in the field of health.
The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Health, Meeting Street. Among those present were: Marco Rolle, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health; Herbert Brown, Managing Director of The Public Hospitals Authority; Sharon Williams, Hospital Administrator; management and staff of the Ministry of Health and the Public Hospitals Authority.
