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  • 2 days ago
If you live in Trinidad and Tobago or within the region, you need to take steps to protect your eyes. It's the advice from medical professionals, as thousands seek free cataract removal surgery courtesy Hands International and the Community Hospital of Seventh Day Adventists. Four thousand surgeries will be carried out, and the initiative runs until May 24th. Rynessa Cutting has more.
Transcript
00:00Just behind me, patients are being prepped for their cataract removal surgery.
00:06And each day, hundreds of persons are processed here at the SDA Community Hospital
00:10thanks to the expertise and the cutting-edge technology of the Hans International Team.
00:16We're talking a quick four-minute surgery, minimally invasive, painless, and immediate restoration of vision.
00:37It was very easy, painless, and you enjoy the journey.
00:47Just have to listen to the instructions and everything is smooth and nice.
00:57Yeah, the doctor is gentle, everybody is gentle and nice.
01:01It's effortless.
01:16We started last week, Tuesday, and as a result, we are here today.
01:22We have done so far almost 1,100 cataract surgery.
01:27Our goal is to do 4,000.
01:28We have the capacity to do that.
01:30We have brought all the supplies, and Dr. Jacobs, who is in the OR as we speak,
01:35he is one of the world's leading experts in cataract surgery.
01:39He's one of the few persons that could do it in under four minutes
01:43because of a technique that he has developed.
01:55If a person has not had a diagnosis of cataract, if they have not had a measurement where it tells
02:03us the size of the lens,
02:04then those people should come to get registered and make arrangements.
02:11Now, before the limiting factors, a lot of folks said the $500 that was charged for it, they couldn't afford
02:19it.
02:19So right now it's free once they come here.
02:22Or if they could get it, even the hospital is providing that.
02:26So if they could get it, it's a simpler way to get through the process because when we have to
02:30stop to screen to say,
02:32well, you have cataract, and then to give you the screening test or the measurement for the eyes,
02:37it does take up a lot of valuable time.
02:51This is the first private hospital in Trinidad.
02:54I'm always proud to say that.
02:55But we are also a hospital that is faith-based that believe in mission.
02:59So to have this hospital participate in the most amazing opportunity to serve the public,
03:06and we are here actually to supplement the government system.
03:11This is why this hospital was created.
03:13The five acres we are on was given by the government.
03:16The hospital didn't have to buy the land.
03:18So we are giving back.
03:19That's what this hospital does, and we are happy to partner with Hands International and Eyes for India to make
03:25this a reality.
03:45Based on where we are in latitude in terms of the equator, there is a serious issue here with, based
03:52on our location,
03:54there's an increase in cataracts.
03:55So all of us should be mindful that, yes, it's nice and sun and sand,
03:59but we live in a place that is actually high incidence of cataract disease.
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