Jamaican Prime Minister attends Opening of new Eye Care Clinic in Kingston fitted with equipment donated by Cuba and staffed with Cuban specialists Jamaica. Jan 27.2010. Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, attended this Wednesday, January 27, the opening ceremony of a new eye clinic fitted with equipment donated by Cuba to the Caribbean sister nation and staffed by Cuban specialists. The opening ceremony was held at the St. Joseph´s Hospital, a facility where eye surgeries will be performed. Among the dignitaries who participated in the moving ceremony were Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala López, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh, Health Minister, Rudyard Spencer, high-ranking officials of the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, respectively. Other parliamentarians and representatives of the PNP, members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Jamaica, including Ambassadors from the Latin-American and Caribbean countries, members of the solidarity movement and representatives of the Cuban medical team that will render services at the aforementioned Clinic, and members of the Cuban diplomatic mission in this country also attended the function. At the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, Jena Dixon, was the first official to take the floor, followed by the Jamaican Health Minister, the Cuban Ambassador and finally, the Jamaican Prime Minister, who gave the closing remarks. In his speech to the attendees, Ambassador Gala López, gave a brief history about the inception of the Miracle Operation in the year 2004, and explained that it was a joint initiative put forth by the presidents of Cuba and Venezuela, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez. The initiative was rapidly extended to other developing countries, including some Caribbean nations. The Cuban Ambassador underlined that in the case of Jamaica, the project was started out in 2005; emphasizing that, to date, more than 53 000 Jamaicans had been screened by our specialists, out of that number, more than 5 000 underwent surgery in Cuba. Similarly, Ambassador Yuri Gala recalled the work undertaken by Cuba within the framework of this program, in spite of being a blockaded country. He mentioned the agreement signed by the governments of Cuba and Jamaica in July 2009 for the establishment of the aforesaid eye clinic, and encouraged the 14 members of the Cuban eye care team present at the ceremony, to offer a service of excellence as guardians of health and of life, convinced that, as the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution has stated, “a better world is possible”. Furthermore, he remembered that the opening of this new Eye Clinic was taking place in the month that marked the 51st anniversary of the triumph of our Revolution and on the eve of another anniversary of the birth of Jose Marti. On the other hand, Prime Minister Bruce Golding thanked the government of Cuba for the help offered to the Jamaican people through this successful program which has made possible for many of his fellow countrymen to recover their sight. He also thanked Venezuela for its support to the Miracle Operation project and explained to the attendees that the opening of this Eye Clinic in Kingston not only allows more Jamaican citizens to benefit from the program, but also nationals from other CARICOM countries. He highlighted the cooperation Cuba has offered to Jamaica in this area, in spite of being a developing country facing its own the challenges, and indicated that this was an example that Cubans share what they have with other nations of the region and are always in the position to offer a first-world service. The Prime Minister, on behalf of the people and the government of Jamaica thanked the government of Cuba for the supportive assistance offered in the health sector and in other areas of cooperation which today maintain the bilateral relations between both countries. The opening ceremony of the Eye Clinic was given extensive media coverage, including press, radio and TV. (Cubaminrex - EmbaCuba Jamaica) |