Cuban Ambassador defends eye operations

Cuban Ambassador defends eye operations
published: Thursday | June 1, 2006
Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter

ARMED WITH statistics and testimonies from satisfied patients, Gisela
Garcia Rivera, Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica, has hit back at critics of
the 'Miracle Operation' eye surgery programme.

The programme, which allows Jamaicans with serious eye problems to visit
Cuba free of cost to receive treatment from that nation's
ophthalmologists, has come under fire in recent weeks from local
doctors, who have questioned the integrity of the treatment the patients
receive in Cuba.

The doctors have pointed to patients who, having undergone surgery in
Cuba, have developed complications since being back in Jamaica.

But the Cuban Ambassador would have none of it. "Cuba has provided this
service to 230,000 persons in Latin America and the Caribbean since the
beginning of the programme. Complications from these eye operations are
less than two per cent of the total number of people who have gone to
Cuba. This is far above the internationally acceptable standards," she said.

FURTHER TREATMENT

"We do understand, however, that for the persons with the problems,
these statistics will provide no comfort. That is why the Government and
people of Cuba are committed to them until the end. Even if they have to
go back to Cuba for further treatment. We will do whatever is necessary.
Even if they need a transplant. We will not let the patients down," said
Mrs. Garcia Rivera.

She said the programme has been under attack since it first started.
"There were people who were criticising the programme before they even
knew how it was going to work. The Jamaican people will have to
determine for themselves what these persons' motives were," Mrs. Garcia
Rivera noted.

"What of the persons who have undergone surgery locally and have
developed complications? Why are we hearing nothing of these persons?"
she asked.

The ambassador pointed to the case of 14-year-old Lenissa Woodcock who
was suffering from a tumour in her left eye. According to Mrs. Rivera,
the girl was taken to Cuba some months ago, where she received surgery
at the best hospital in the country and is now doing well. All of this,
at no cost.

When the programme first started in August 2005, the Cuban Government
expressed a desire to set up a state-of-the-art eye clinic in Jamaica.
The plan was that the entire project would be funded by Cuba and the
best doctors from that country would travel to Jamaica to train the
local doctors.

When asked if the present controversy has affected these plans, the
Cuban ambassador said no.

"This is a very good programme and we will see it through. Our aim is to
help, because we have the facilities and the expertise. We will continue
to help in any way we can."

A total of 2,196 Jamaicans have received surgery under the 'Miracle
Operation' programme since it started on August 26, 2005.
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