100 Belizeans are tonight on a plane bound for Havana, Cuba. But they aren't heading on a vacation or a diplomatic trip, they are heading to Cuba to undergo free corrective eye surgery. The surgery as well as the trip is free courtesy the governments of Belize, Cuba, and Venezuela and was facilitated by the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI). 7NEWS was at the airport for the send-off.
Keith Swift Reporting, [keithkswift@gmail.com]
This Russian built Yak42 Cuban government plane landed at the PGIA this afternoon. Its singular mission is to transport 100 Belizeans on a 90-minute direct flight to Havana, Cuba for eye surgery.
Joan Musa, Executive Director - BCVI
"Some of them have lid problems with their eyelids, others are cataract patients, and a variety of diseases that will respond to surgery. So any condition that will respond to surgery, they are being given the opportunity of going to Cuba and getting the surgery completely free and they will get all of their living accommodations provided and everything."
Florencio Barrera's wife is one of those who left on the Yak42 this evening. She has battled cataract for the past 10 years and now both her eyes are infected.
Florencio Barrera, Husband of Eye Patient
"She was advised by the Cuban doctors to go and with all blessings she got some help."
Keith Swift,
How long has your wife been suffering from cataract?
Florencio Barrera,
"About 10 years. Its not chronic but she needs help. She can see but eyes have been infected."
Keith Swift,
What are you hoping when she comes back you will find?
Florencio Barrera,
"I hope she has good sight. That's what I expect."
Joan Musa says there is no guaranteed success for any of the patients but this is the first of many Yak42s we will see transporting eye patients for surgery.
Joan Musa,
"BCVI's vision is of a Belize where nobody is needlessly blind so if some of these people come back with their vision restored, that's one step for us nearer our goal. This is like any other operation, there's a very high success rate but we can't guarantee it for everybody. Sometimes they might have other problems that haven't been foreseen. But we're very hopeful that the majority of them will come back with better vision."
Keith Swift,
How were these patients chosen?
Joan Musa,
"Some of these are BCVI patients that we knew about, others have responded to advertisements, they have done some very intensive work in the Cayo district going to the villages and this will continue. This is just the first flight of what will be a series of flights so people should listen out for the announcements of where the clinics will take place."
Keith Swift,
How significant is this in terms of the cooperation between Belize and Cuba?
Eugenio Martinez, Cuban Ambassador to Belize
"The Cuba and Belize relationship is basically in the area of cooperation. As you know we have more than 130 nurses in Belize so this is one more step in the solidarity between the Cuban and Belize people. I think its very important, it's a milestone in the process. It's the first time so many Belizeans are going to Cuba for surgery. So far we used to have 3 Belizeans a year for year in Cuba and this is the first time we're going to accommodate 100 in one day."
The patients arrive in Havana tonight and will receive treatment over the next 7 to 14 days. 37,000 Venezuelans have benefited from the program. Those Belizeans wanting to catch the next flight should attend BCVI screening clinics which are being held countrywide. For times and dates call 227-7776.