Jamaica and Cuba have signed documents aimed at keeping cooperation on healthcare through the provision of eye care services and health professionals for local public health system.

Tufton assured the aim is to determine how many patients need eye surgeries, which is part of the Jamaica-Cuba Eye Care program, the Gleaner daily stated.

The minister pointed out that approximately 6,458 patients had been assessed, so 5,863 of them need surgery.

Tufton added that Cuban professionals perform examinations at the Kingston Public Hospital in order to perform procedures to alleviate the backlog of cases there.

Cuban physicians also assist and treat patients who are on waiting lists for cataract, pterygium and diabetic retinopathy surgeries, the minister granted.

“So far, 528 patients were screened and 155 are being prepared for cataract surgery; 132 were tested for diabetic retinopathy; 180 accessed laser treatments; and 10 pterygium surgeries were completed,” Tufton summarized.

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