15 Patients To Benefit From Cataract Surgeries Through Paria-S.E.E. Partnership

Fifteen patients will benefit from cataract eye surgeries, courtesy of the Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited and the Save Eyes Everywhere S.E.E. Foundation.

Speaking at the Beyond Vision Ceremony on Thursday, Minister of Health Dr Lackram Bodoe noted that as this country faces a high prevalence of diabetes-related eye diseases, prevention, screening, and partnerships are essential to reduce costs and blindness.

“We have a big burden of NCDs in this country and one of our major burdens is diabetes. And diabetic eye disease, what we call retinopathies, which is damage to the retina, is a very challenging problem. If you reach the point where you need a VR surgery, a vitreo-retinal surgery, it can cost you in the private sector upwards of $35,000. So it is quite expensive. The Ministry, of course, has a programme. We try our best to try and facilitate and to help where we can. But of course, it is with contributions and collaborations from organisations like yours that will ease the burden on the population.”