(JIS) — A total of 225 cataract patients at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in Manchester had well-needed surgeries last week, courtesy of a team of surgeons from the Unites States and India.

The operations, which were carried out from September 15 to 19, have cut by more than half, the number of patients awaiting cataract surgery at the facility, and have also significantly reduced the waiting time for the procedure.

The hospital had a list of some 418 cataract patients, and persons can wait up 14 months to have their eye surgery done. With the assistance, the hospital will be able to more effectively manage eye surgeries.

US-based diaspora charity Mind, Body and Soul Health Ministries, which has been working in Jamaica for several years, organised

the medical mission through sponsorship from internationally renowned cardiologist and philanthropist Dr Kiran Patel.

At a press conference held at the hospital on Friday, consultant and head of the Ophthalmology Department Dr Gavin Henry commended the team of surgeons and other medical professionals.

“The quality of the surgeries has been tremendous, and we are happy to have them back in the future because they have done excellent work,” he said.

He had special commendation for the Dr Kiran Patel Foundation, which donated the ophthalmology machine used during the surgeries.

He said that “the good thing about it (machine) is, it not only measures oxygen saturation, but is able to measure your haemoglobin without having to take blood; that’s a significant advance.”

Jamaican national Horace Morgan, who is director of Mind, Body and Soul Health Ministries, said the one-week mission at the Mandeville Hospital is part of efforts by the organisation to widen its support to other parishes.

He informed that the charity’s work has been focused on the parish of StAnn, where his wife, Dr Hillary Morgan, originated.

Morgan said he and his wife are happy to give back to the island of their birth. “It was a great week, there were no mishaps, everyone seems to be happy, and it was our pleasure to give back in this way. We are from humble beginnings, and we still have family living here. We are Jamaicans and it gives us much satisfaction to do this,” he stated.

Chief executive officer of the hospital Alwyn Miller, in lauding what he described as “a significant milestone in a partnership for improved vision for Jamaicans”, said he was pleased that the team selected the hospital.

“And we look forward to having them back to help the people of central Jamaica,” he added.

The charity has organised health and medical missions to St Ann for several years and in 2012, collaborated with the Government to improve the mental health, pharmacy, curative, dental, nutrition, family health, diagnostic, and environmental health

services facilities at Alexandria Hospital.