Jamaica to serve as Cuban eye care hub

[Judi Lynn]

Jamaica to serve as Cuban eye care hub
By HG HELPS Editor-at-Large [e-mail]
Friday, December 31, 2010


JAMAICA is to serve as the Caribbean hub for the Cuban eye care programme, which has reached out to thousands of people in the region, Cuba's minister of foreign affairs has said.

The main eye operating centre located at St Joseph's Hospital in the eastern section of Kingston has already served over 1,000 patients since it was established here earlier this year with Cuban technology and personnel.

Formerly, Jamaicans and others from around the Caribbean would visit Cuba to have surgeries done, but a shift in policy by Cuba in 2009 resulted in the setting up of several offshore centres, mainly to eradicate the high cost of travel and other expenses that that country has had to absorb.

Known as the Miracle Eye Care Programme, it remains one of the most cherished of the Raul Castro regime, which policymakers are adamant will be kept and strengthened.

More:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Jamaica-to-serve-as-Cuban-eye-care-hub_8259325