Equipment donation means better eye care in Antigua and Barbuda

The Antigua and Barbuda Eye Care programme has been given a major boost by the government of South Korea.

The Asian nation has donated six modern piece of medical equipment to as in the fight against eye disease.

Among the donated machines is state of the art Zeiss Visual Analiyzer, which measures the human visual field, a Haag-Straight Tonometer, a Pachymeter, an I-Care Tonometer, a Phoroptor, and a Keeler Ophthalmoscope Indirect.

The Haag-Straight Tonometer and the I-Care Tonometer will be used for measuring intraocular eye pressure, the Pachymeter is a tool used to measure the thickness of the eye’s cornea, the Phoroptor is used for testing individual lenses on each eye during an exam while the Keeler Ophthalmoscope Indirect is for the peripheral viewing of the retina.

Health and the Environment Minister Molwyn Joseph, speaking at a ceremony that marked the oofficial handing over of the machines, said that when it comes to people’s health there should be no barrier.

“What has transpired in Antigua and Barbuda in the past is a system where the ability to pay determines the quality of life,” he said.

“We have embarked clearly on a different policy. Poverty, low income, ability to pay should not be a barrier to health care and the quality of life.”

Dealing with major issues

Minister Joseph added that with between 7,000 and 9,000 citizens requiring cataract surgeries that each cost between $6,000 and $8,000, the new equipment will help to reduce the cost of operations while at the same time, giving the country the ability to tackle many of the eye diseases that affect the population.

“Many of these individuals who need cataract surgeries cannot afford to pay the six or eight thousand dollars so people remain legally blind because they do not have the money,” he added.

“This equipment almost completes the list of equipment that we are putting together so that we can address every eye disease in Antigua and Barbuda, we are moving beyond cataract and pterygium, we want to deal with diabetic retinopathy, we want to deal with glaucoma, retinal detachment which is a major issue.”

The total value of the donations is believed to be around US$70,000.