00:01120 medical professionals, mainly from the United States, are in the country as part of HENS International,
00:08a medical mission committed to giving back to people around the world.
00:11Monday was called it to be busy as the group got to work at the community hospital of Seven Day Adventists,
00:18where people would have received free health care across a sphere of specialties.
00:22Director of Strategic Partnership at the hospital Samuel Sanka says,
00:26the information on how people can access the health services was sent out via different platforms,
00:32and the response has been overwhelming.
00:35As of now, we are oversubscribed.
00:37We have over 8,000 persons registered, waiting to do surgeries, procedures, seek medical attention.
00:45We're doing hernia, we're doing ophthalmology, we're doing a whole lot of things.
00:49Later on, in the month of August, we're doing 2,000 cataract surgeries free,
00:54and they're all funded by HENS International.
00:57Local doctors have also partnered with the mission.
01:01Sanka says part of the goal is to reduce some of the load within the public health care system,
01:06and we're told that some patients were actually referred from the regional health authorities.
01:11It's a labor of love on the part of HENS International.
01:15We're delighted to have them.
01:16They are paying their own fees, and they are paying their own way, heads and beds, increased tourism,
01:23and even medical tourism as well.
01:25The mission, led by Trinidadian-born Dr. Steve Agard, runs from July 21st to July 24th.
01:32Dr. Elliot Lightman came in from Delaware, and it's his first time visiting TNT.
01:38Most of us are from the East Coast of the United States.
01:40I'm an orthopedic surgeon.
01:42I take care of musculoskeletal issues, including joint reconstruction, fractures.
01:47Dr. Michael Taylor, co-founder and vice president of the Health and Nutrition Association,
01:52says the medical mission aligns with the mandate of the non-profit organization,
01:57and it is happy for the partnership.
01:59And we are so excited at what this can actually bring to Trinidad and to Bego
02:05in regards to reducing the burden of entities in our country
02:09and giving people the care that they are moving.
02:11The Diabetes Association is also on board with the initiative.
02:16The community hospital states that there will be other opportunities over the next 20 days
02:21for people who didn't get to enroll.
02:24Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
Comments