Kingston, Jamaica, 27th November, 2018.- The newspaper Jamaica Observer, one of the most important in the country, published in its printed and online editions, a heartfelt letter of appreciation to the work carried out by the Cuban Operation Miracle Brigade during more than a decade.
In the letter, Claudette Grannum refers that she can now see clearly and read without glasses having recently done two surgeries through the fantastic Jamaica/Cuba Eye Care Programme. Grannum adds that this same sentiment is shared by the thousand Jamaican patients that have benefitted through the gifted hands of Cuban ophthalmologists.
Thousands Jamaicans have benefitted from Operation Miracle, a noble campaign to treat persons from the region who are affected by curable ophthalmological diseases. From 2005 to 2010, Jamaica was among the countries that sent patients to be treated in Cuba. During that period, 5,905 Jamaicans travelled to Cuba and 4,698 from these, underwent surgical procedures to finally recover their eyesight.
In July, 2009, an ophthalmological centre was inaugurated in Kingston and the first Cuban brigade arrived on January 2010. Up to the present, the Operation Miracle Brigade has performed more than 113 thousand consultations and more than 16 thousand patients have received surgical procedures.
Currently, the Cuban Medical Brigade in Jamaica is composed 290 collaborators working under the bilateral agreement for cooperation in the health area.
Following, full text of the letter:
Dear Editor,
I can see clearly now and reading without eye glasses, having recently done two surgeries through the fantastic Jamaica/Cuba Eye Care Programme.
I lift my hat off to the Cuban medical team and to both Governments who have lifted my spirit and have brightened my life, so to speak.
Maybe I can speak on behalf of all the patients who have benefited through the gifted hands of these Cuban ophthalmologists and rejoice in the day that this social welfare programme was conceptualised in the era of former Prime Minister Michael Manley and Cuban President Fidel Castro for Jamaicans and other Caricom nationals. What a joyous day when this was announced in 2010 by the Ministry of Health. Since then, the partnership between both Governments has continued and thousands of individuals have got registered for the programme being run at the National Chest Hospital.
No words can express our gratitude for this outstanding service, which has exceeded our expectations in correcting eye problems such as cataracts, fleshy growth over the eyes, and damage to the back of the eye.
Again, I (and I am sure many others) remain grateful for this amazing programme.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/jamaica-cuba-eye-care-miracle_150460
Embacuba Jamaica