Jamaica resumed an ophthalmologic care program it offers with the support of Cuban collaborators to detect and treat patients with different eye diseases, an official source confirmed today.

According to the Government Information Service (JIS), nine professionals from the largest of the Antilles are currently working at the public hospital in this capital city, receiving patients suffering from pathologies such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and pterygium.

More than six thousand Jamaicans have visited the hospital in recent days to determine whether or not they need to undergo surgeries to correct their eye health problems.

More Cuban specialists are expected to arrive this month and the remodeling of Saint Joseph Hospital, which will host the above-mentioned health program with departments for consultations, surgeries, and post-operative care, should also be completed.

JIS recalled that apart from medical services, the collaboration project with Cuba also includes the training of ophthalmologists from Jamaica and assistance in the maintenance of equipment.

In October last year, the two Caribbean nations signed a letter of intent on the continued provision of a medical brigade to Kingston.

Another similar document provided for the renewal of an agreement for the operation of an Ophthalmology Center that, over the years, facilitated greater access to high-quality and timely services.

Kingston and Havana sealed their first agreement in this health field on July 28, 2009, then in January 2010 they inaugurated a clinic in that territory and since then Cuban professionals have been providing services there.

Official data indicate that thanks to that program, between 2010 and 2019, more than 35,000 patients were examined, 21,412 received surgeries and 17,000 were spared from blindness.