Dominican patient receives spectacles from Cuban optometrist

On Tuesday, July 25, 2006, over 100 Dominicans gathered at the Youth Centre in Roseau. Some arrived to receive their glasses at no cost to them, courtesy of the Cuban Government. Other patients had their first consultation since receiving treatment for various eyes diseases in Cuba in the last few weeks.

Since the initiative dubbed Miracle Mission started in July, 2005, well over 1300 Dominicans have received free surgical eye treatment in Cuba. Thousands of persons in fourteen countries in the Caribbean Region have received treatment for various eye aliments in the last year.

Many patients have expressed satisfaction with their eyesight following the operations in Cuba. Some patients have seen a dramatic improvement in their eyesight. Others who were partially sighted, have now had their vision restored.

Patients have been flown to Cuba free of charge and all accommodation costs have been met by the Cuban Government.

In the last year, bilateral relations between Cuba and Dominica have strengthened. A Cuban Embassy in Dominica was opened earlier this year in Morne Daniel. The first ever Cuban Ambassador to Dominica, Osvaldo Cobacho, has taken up residence here.

Clarkson Thomas is now Dominica’s Ambassador to Cuba and a Dominican Embassy has been established in Cuba.