An agreement for free eye surgery and optimal care to the less fortunate in Dominica was officially signed on Wednesday.
Miracle Mission, a famous eye care program of cooperation carried out by ALBA, will take place in Dominica by Venezuela Eye Specialists.
That agreement was signed between Health Minister Dr. Kenneth Darroux and the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Dominica Hayden Pirela Sanchez.
Darroux said the aim of the mission is not to interfere or upset any ongoing eye programs on the island.
“In fact we look at this program as a way to enhance what is already going on because we should be naive to pretend that we do not know sometimes the cost of involving these surgical interventions by the local services, especially as it pertains to the private services,” he said at the signing ceremony held at the Financial Center.
According to him, the free service will provide an opportunity for persons who needed surgical interventions as it pertains to pterygiums and cataracts.
Furthermore, Darroux stated that the ministry will undergo a massive training program in the upcoming months to identify persons who are most in need of intervention.
“Over the next several months we intend to identify Dominican patients suffering ophthalmologic pathologies such as cataracts and pterygiums, who continue to overwhelm our own very hard working and dedicated ophthalmology staff and under the principles of solidarity, equality, and mutual respect to have these persons screened and fully access,” he explained.
Dr. Darroux indicated that the screening will be done in several strategic locations across the island, “allowing equal opportunity for voluntary access that once the need for surgical intervention has been established, the full pre-operative testing will be conducted and all qualifying patients will have access to pre-evaluative operation and later surgery, most of which will occur right here in Dominica with the help of highly trained and competent teams of ophthalmologists from Venezuela.”
“Follow-ups will continue and full documentation of treatments and procedures will be made available,” he noted.
Meantime, Ambassador Sanchez also said that the intention of the mission is not to invade the private medical sector.
“Our intention is to help persons who are less fortunate,” he said. “We will always respect the work of the local Doctors.”
He indicated that over the years the mission has helped to restore the vision of over four million people in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Miracle Mission is a humanitarian social program that was created within the framework of the Sandino Commitment between the Governments of Venezuela and Cuba, with the aim of providing eye care to a huge number of people suffering from eye health problems, who for socio-economic reasons has no access to those medical treatments.
I honestly think we should put on hold any gifts from Venezuela at the moment. They are some serious economic problems. These resources should be used to help its people and economy. When things get better we can accept.
In this carnival season, the government should go do political eye surgery so as to see clearly that nothing is happening in Dominica….
Clear vision and thus government is an oxymoron. ….
i would just rather the government leave me alone. Dont pester me and i wont pester you.
Pm those boys want to end your legacy because they know if they correct the vision of those blind voters, next time they will be able to see and vote you out. So keeping them blind is to ur advantage boss. I hope Tony gets to know that so he could send an SOS email to stop this madness, like the election commissioner.
I would hope that they are also bringing their necessary equipment with them. If they can help the less fortunate to see better, more power to them.
The question is are the same government officials going to get their eye surgery in Dominica or overseas ?
I’m seeing double already.
We might question the integrity of those five hospitals we saw on “My Dominica Trade House”, but one thing we cannot doubt is, their ability to identify the main malady in Dominica and their willingness to deal with it. Off course I am talking about BLINDNESS. They realized is blind people that voted Skerrit so they decide to unblind them.
I guess the Eye Specialists will be : Dr. Skerro, Dr, Mano, Dr Lawro, Dr, Darro, all of whom I saw on the “My Dominica Trade House.” All of these doctors are millionaires so they could afford to give free eye service to those with eye problem so they could see the ballot next time, and avoid making the mistake they made last election
I am pleased to know that Dominicans who are in need receive this medical help. While each part of our faculty is necessary, the eyes are a very important part of it.
Thank you to the Miracle Mission for helping those Dominicans who are in need of this vital medical assistance.
This is not a political issue, it involves all of us. Some trust in LINTON AND SKERRITT but I trust in the name of the LORD.
Dominica’s new religion is Politics, they have forgotten their GOD. Everything is politics. When Israel was established there was only one king, there were no opposition. Oppositions divides and destroy countries although they may mean well.
Today focus your hearts on things above not on earthly things, this is a warning.
You are just another mask hypocrite that is coming in the name of the bible and prophet. I hope you haven’t got your diplomatic passport. One thing, I can tell you are a false prophet who supports the corruption of Skerrit!!!
FYI Dominica has always had an opposition and yet, we were not always divided. Skerrit is the divider and his dividing of the nation can be seen in every community.
The fact that you are out there reading the politics and blogging, is proof that your heart might not be focused on God and on things above, as you would want us to believe. STOP TWISTING GOD’S WORD TO FULFIL YOUR POLITICAL AGENDA!!! Hypocrite you
Hey Boss, tanks for de free this and de free that and da free eye surgery too, but all a really want is a paying job. Think say you and handle dat.
this comedian Floridian diospora is so dam stupid and politically blind is astonishing,first you are a Dominican naming yourself floridan which you are not,but just love noticing,in florida the pile you have to pay for eyecare is ridiculus especially if do not have insurance,but you have to be here like a foolish dog barking at a flying bird,i hope you not living on foodstamps in florida
But nobody didn’t force you to read the foolish dog comment. Is burn it burning you that is why you feel the need to express your anger like a rotating baboon who hasn’t had a ripe banana in a while. If you had any sort of intelligence at all you would have realized that my comment was not against the free eye surgery. I only suggested that your beloved P.M. is the one who needs it first bearing in mind the dire state which he has brought Dominica to. I thought that Dominica was a democratic country? What ever happened to freedom of speech? You are free to say whatever you want but I cannot speak my mind. This just goes how sick you are. If skeritt didn’t fulfill his red clinic obligations and give you your weekly stipend you can send me your personal info so I will send you some pocket change for you buy a bunch of ripe fig so you could attain your daily supplements. Continue loving your P.M., continue reading my comments too. Let it eat you up
Hey i thought with that great and wonderful “Obamacare” eyecare would be free in florida
But you are correct more people are living on foodstamps benefits, since he has been president
Skerrit’s attack against locals continue. Here is his progress so far:
1. Local stores were forced to closedown and replaced by Chinese.
2. Many Dominicans, especially from the north, took big loans to build apartments for students and professors of Ross. Then came the Villas and other apartments, that forced many apartment owners to be left with a loan and no students or professors.
3. Public work employees were sacked to be replaced by private investors.
4. State house, Windsor Park, Highway etc that could have employed many locals, were all sent to China.
5.Castaways hotel / Layou River hotel out of business only to be replaced by foreign hotels like the Morocan and others that can’t be finished.
6. The DCP was neglected and forced to go out of business….government intends to buy it
7. Opticians to compete against free ALBA services.
The government is clearly the greatest enemy of the people!
Unfortunately, I agree with you. The private sector will continue to die out.
Is this part of the five hospitals in the sky they boasted about?
As good as this signing ceremony may look, it is decisions like this that keep local professionals and investors in the DIASPORA , away from Dominica because no one feels safe under this administration.
Dominica is a small island and when the government can just bring free political service to people, without working with the local professionals, don’t they expect our local professionals to be thrown out of business? But then again I guess those local opticians might not be his supporters and as we saw in the case of Breezysmart, they will use their influence to shut down your business.
What is wrong with Dominicans? bus go and pay your money elsewhere these guys will find faults with everh thing that is good for the country and do note that the opposition has done absolutely nothing for the enhancement of this land because their vision is blurred by hatred and lack of fore sight. I can guarantee you that they will be first to enter daddy Chavez eye clinic SHAME
Another link in the Communistic chain. Bolivia? Oh my… It’s like stealing candy from a baby.
This is nothing but a diversion tactic. Skerrit is under tremendous pressure for the manner in which he treated former stalwarts of the Dominica Labor Party, like Patrick John and now Osborne Reviere, and both individuals are speaking out, so he had to find a way to divert the attention of laborites.
Where was ALBA when Dominicans were covered under mud during Erika? How can we forget it was for an ALBA document that Skerrit signed https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/dominica-did-not-sign-alba-communique-on-usaid-astaphan/comment-page-1/ that expelled USAID to Dominica, because according to them, it was interference which threatens our stability and sovereignty .
If this here is not a threat to our local opticians and those employed by them, I sure don’t know what is..
I hope Charlo is not considered as less fortunate
Thank you Venezuela for this intervention. However, I strongly advise that you all work hand in gloves with our local eyes specialists since they already know most of the patients requiring this intervention. Leaving them out to dry will only hurt us more as a people since only a few cabal supporters will get the “preferential” treatment even if they do not need it. Mark my words, the DLP supporters and cabal family members will be first in line even if they don’t need immediate intervention regardless of what Darroux says.
Having said that, I strongly urge ALL DLP Representatives (Parl. Reps, Ministers, Senators) to stand infront of the line because you all BIG VISIONS need immediate alignment or correction. The SUPREMO needs total eyes replacement because as far as I can tell he already AHHVEG (blind)! In a cabinet where the BLIND is leading the TOTALLY BLINDS this could not be more timely. Now back to reality and dealing with real issues..no handout distractions!
Yes we note all the problems listed with that programme. With an effort they can all be overcome Now tell me should we welcome this program or should we let the lest fortunate among us stay blind.
The Doctors are coming from Venezuela? Not too sure about that one! Venezuela can hardly help itself yet it offers to give this free service? There should be some clarification on this one, are the Doctors coming from Venezuela or Cuba? With all due respect, if they are from the Bolivarian Republic, I’ll pass on this one, this appears to be a make belief stunt from a lame-duck President Maduro.
At some time the Dominica government must learn to say Thanks but No Thanks, Mr. President, because your people are in dire need of every little penny the country has with falling oil prices and inflation at 700%.
We Dominicans must have a heart and tell the politicians that it is not good to continue bleeding the Venezuelan cow while the people are suffering. Imagine the people do not have toilet paper and they want to give us free eye care?
all good ,BUT DONT BE DISTRACTED BY THIS STCK TO THE ISSUES
Ok Dr.Shillingford-Ricketts what’s your take doc?
Nice!!! When everything is in place and he ball starts rolling, the first patient in line should be Dr. R Skeritt, as he seems to be lacking required vision and the necessary foresight to take this country forward.
This is what our contry has become,handout nation.
Are you a Christian? Smarten up and be enlightened. Open your mind and brains. All countries, be they progressive to a certain extent have poor people. Their governments also establish programs, medical and others for the less fortunate.
You need to educate yourself, become broadminded about these matters and cease debasing your country and frowning upon the good works which are taking place.
God is pleased with good works, helping the less fortunate – those who are not able to afford general expensive medical treatment.
Blessing descends from God upon those who comprehend their situation and who assist them.
It is clear. the point is made that this program is not meant to compete with the private sector. However the problem is that it is a surgical programme which is to be implemented in the public sector.
This programme will impact all the surgical services at PMH.
There are 11 surgeons employed at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Are they expected to suspend their one day a week operating room time to facilitate this elective programme?
Secondly, there has been alot of discussions recently of construction to take place at PMH including the operating theatre. We are planning how to move services around to facilitate the construction, Is this the time to implement a new surgical programme?
Third no one at PMH has been engaged in the planning and implementation of this programme. How will this programme interface with the daily operations at PMH
Fourth the limited operating room nurses will have to manage this additional use of the operating theatre.
Service is welcomed but…
Did you comprehend the article? There are times you must read between the lines. They will assist the less fortunate with eye surgery. in an organized manner What more do you want to know and expect?
Remember when the US medical ship came to Dominica? While no one in dire need of medical care was turned away, the principle of assisting the poor was not disregarded.
Yes i want to know more and i expect more. I want facts.
Be careful with this.
Is any Dominican eye doctor part of the team.
Are thse doctors sufficiently trained.
people please ask questions before you just jump in.
I know Dominicans like freeniss and will fight for it.
just be sure you know what you are getting into.
These doctors need to show their credentials and have them on disp,ay as well.
Don’t worry MD. They will use the My Dominica Trade House clinic.
The doctors should be pleased. They will now be paid in good old U.S.dollars and not Bolivars.