Dr. Jerrel Pawiroredjo checks the eyes of Rotarian Marcellia Henry in the presence of Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise President Valda Hazel and member Irma Gumbs.
CAY HILL--White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) and Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise jointly presented a portable fundus camera to the newly opened St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) ophthalmology clinic on Friday, December 7.
Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise initiated the purchase of the camera.
During the presentation, SMMC’s ophthalmologist Dr. Jerrel Pawiroredjo from Suriname, who is assisting SMMC with its newly opened eye care clinic, explained that he first visited St. Maarten in 2015 on the request of Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise. He was asked to install the then-newly-purchased fundus camera at WYCCF to start preventative screening activities for residents who suffer from diabetes and/or hypertension.
Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise then-President Dr. Virginia Asin initiated this. A physician herself and then working at the Ministry of Public Health Department of Collective Prevention Services in St. Maarten, Asin saw the importance of screening and early detection of eye problems.
When Pawiroredjo met with local stakeholders he realised there was no ophthalmology clinic on the Dutch side, which amazed him, as the prevalence of secondary complications from diabetes and hypertension (such as preventable blindness) was high. This triggered his first conversations with SMMC to research the possibilities of collaboration between St. Maarten and Suriname to set up quality ophthalmology services here in the country.
Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise President Valda Hazel stated that the club is extremely proud of the donation of the fundus camera to SMMC’s ophthalmology clinic.
“It shows how the project for a vital piece of medical equipment was the first trigger that later on resulted in full, high quality ophthalmology services being available locally, which is so important for the population of St. Maarten,” WYCCF and the Rotary Club said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
WYCCF representative Bregje Boetekees explained that the fundus camera fits best within the eye clinic at SMMC, where screening can now be done by a technical ophthalmology assistant (TOA). The camera operates painlessly and takes a picture of the inside of the eye, showing the optical nerve and blood vessels.
As diabetes and hypertension can cause damage to the nerve and blood vessels, early detection of such damage leads to early treatment, which will prevent far-reaching problems such as loss of vision.
Rotary International observes a different theme each month and each club throughout the Rotary world is encouraged to concentrate on programmes and projects to promote each of these months. December is observed as Disease Prevention and Treatment Month, and the camera donated ties in with the monthly theme.
Members of Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise continue with its service to humanity, the statement said.
