?? ????????, ????????? ??, ??? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? (?????) ???????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ?? ??? ????? ?????????? ??????? ??? ???????????? ????????? ?? ??????? & ???????. This makes Antigua the first country in the region, outside of Trinidad, where the TEH team has carried out this advanced surgery.
The surgery was performed by VR Surgeon, Dr. Ronnie Bhola, as part of a week-long initiative from September 8–12, during which more than 130 eye surgeries were completed, including vitrectomies, laser treatments, diabetic eye procedures, and pterygium surgeries.
For many patients, this represents a major turning point. In the past, those with conditions like retinal detachments often had no choice but to travel overseas at great personal cost. Now, access to these life-changing procedures is available right here at home. For patients, this means faster treatment, lower expenses, and more time with their families and support systems during recovery.
“This is another first for our hospital and for Antigua & Barbuda, and we are all proud of that,” said ??. ?????? ?????-??????, ????? ??????? ????????. “Sight is so closely tied to our quality of life, our ability to work, to care for our families, and to contribute to our communities and economy. Despite the challenges we face, we continue to do more for the people we serve. This achievement was only possible through the strong support of our partners—the Ministry of Health, the Medical Benefits Scheme, and the Trinidad Eye Hospital—and we are truly grateful.”
The initiative reflects SLBMC’s ongoing commitment to reducing preventable blindness and improving care for patients with diabetic eye disease—a growing concern in Antigua & Barbuda.
SLBMC extends its gratitude to all partners and healthcare professionals who made this milestone possible.
