St Kitts: JNF hospital to receive new equipment for cataract surgeries, said PM Drew

Basseterre’s Kitts and Nevis:

The management of JNF (Joseph N. France) Hospital in St Kitts and Nevis has recently updated and alerted the general public that cataract surgeries will resume soon at the health care centre, following the purchase and import of new surgical equipment for such procedures.

As per the updates, the decision was made by the Prime Minister, Dr Terrance Drew, after assuming office in August 2022 in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. 

PM Drew has promised to restore the faculty of Eye procedures by providing new equipment and other requirements in various sectors, ensuring full functionality of the JNF hospital to serve the people of St Kitts with the best medical facilities.

In addition, the managing authorities of the JNF (Joseph N France) hospital have conveyed that due to the lack of advanced surgical equipment and requirements, cataract surgeries were halted during the past June 2022.

Additionally, the much-needed equipment regarding the eye faculty service in JNF hospital costs around EC $784,564, which is expected to receive soon by the hospital authorities. Said reports.

Furthermore, the health care centre will receive a Visuref 150 Autorefractor. This instrument is used for reliable and quick objective refraction along with Keratometry results to conduct an in-depth analysis of the patient’s condition, 

which then performs pupil and cornea diameter measurements. Contact lens and image capturing measurements are also done based on curve measurements.

Moreover, the hospital authorities will also receive a surgical microscope ZEISS OPMI LUMERA 700, which is a crucial instrument used in every cataract surgery procedure; the main functions include providing a close anterior view with accurate assistance functions.

The Ministry of Health also stated that, besides the major equipment, multiple Electrosurgery Forceps commonly used in eye procedures to coagulate, fulgurate, dissect, cut, shrink tissue and ablate would also reach the JNF hospital soon. 

The availability of such instruments will allow the medical staff to perform the surgery functions more effectively. Said authorities.

In the end, officials from the Ministry of Health apologised for the inconvenience the patients have faced for the past few months and ensured them that the hospital would run at its full functionality once again in every sector with improved infrastructure.