Several benefits on the horizon for Saint Lucia after visit to Cuba
|
|
|
Contact: Claudia Monlouis
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – Cuba is said to be offering more avenues for assistance to Saint Lucia in the areas of health, education, tourism development and even culture.
The Spanish island recently hosted a delegation from Saint Lucia as part of a state visit to the country by Prime Minister Hon. Stephenson King.
Education Minister Honourable Arsene James, and Health Minister Honourable Keith Mondesir, who were part of the local delegation, both concluded at a press conference Tuesday, that it is now left to Saint Lucia to capitalize on the offers from the Cuban government.
Minister for Health Honourable Keith Mondesir ,says he is particularly excited about the agreements reached, which he says, will bring benefits to patients who need the services of a retinal specialist.
“We have an eye centre that was given to us by the Cubans and it's manned by the Cubans. We were supposed to be provided with a retina specialist, because of the problems that we have in Saint Lucia pertaining to diabetes and hypertension—particularly haemorrhaging at the back of the eye and retinal detachment which are common.”
Mr. Mondesir, who visited Cuba's première ophthalmologic institute and the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Havana, Cuba, says in the short term Saint Lucia will also benefit from the Cuban approach to curing foot ulcers.
The minister has expressed concern at the number of Saint Lucians who suffer from foot ulcers, which may lead eventually, to an increase in the number of food amputations. |
|
© 2010 Government Information Service. All rights reserved. Read our privacy guidelines. |
