Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Jamaicans who journey to Cuba for optical treatment each year are soon to have care provided locally, according to Senator Aundré Franklyn, state minister in the Ministry of Health and Environment.

Since the Jamaica-Cuba 'Miracle Eye Care Programme' began in 2005, more than 11,000 patients have been screened and more than 3,800 operations have been conducted.

"We intend to start the process of having our citizens treated in Jamaica," Senator Franklyn told The Gleaner yesterday.

He noted that the agreement was reached last week, following a meeting with Cuban ambassador to Jamaica, Gisela García.

Senator Franklyn said the Cuban government gave its commitment that it would supply Jamaica with the equipment and staff.

The state minister also revealed that Jamaican doctors would be given scholarships to pursue their master's in ophthalmology.

He said the doctors would then be bonded and would work alongside the Cuban doctors in the facility, which is to be up and running during the next fiscal year.

Underutilised hospital

Senator Franklyn said an underutilised hospital has been identified to treat patients with optical ailments. He, however, declined to say which facility it was but noted that it would accommodate about 50 to 70 beds.

Some 1,700 Jamaicans are to benefit from part two of the Jamaica-Cuban Eye Care Project this year. This is 1,000 more than the 700 who benefited under part one of the project.

One hundred patients are scheduled to leave the island on Tuesday for Cuba to receive treatment. Flights will then leave every 21 days.

A survey of 60 patients who returned to Jamaica in 2006 indicated that 14 patients had serious complications which led to calls for the suspension of the programme.

Asked what was being done to ensure that patients did not develop post-surgery complications, Senator Franklyn said patients would be educated on how to prevent this from happening.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com