BY LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net 

THE Davis administration plans to partner with the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) to train Bahamians in that country’s ophthalmology programme, aiming to address the shortage of eye specialists in The Bahamas.

Government officials, including Prime Minister Philip Davis and Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville, expressed interest in the partnership during an exploratory meeting with Rwandan officials yesterday.

The meeting featured a comprehensive presentation by the President of the African Ophthalmology Council on Rwanda’s eye care programme,  highlighting the model as a blueprint for international collaboration.

Officials also promoted Rwanda as a progressive nation, noting it’s on track to become the first country where all screening for diabetic eye disease is conducted using artificial intelligence.

The meeting comes as the country’s healthcare system in The Bahamas continues to face an increasing demand for quality eye medical care.

It follows the Bahamas Medical Council’s review of the Rwandan ophthalmology programme for credentialing purposes after a Bahamian doctor had already begun training there and sought confirmation that the programme met the Council’s requirements for specialist certification.

There are two Bahamians enrolled in the programme, and officials are seeking to expand participation.

They hope to formalise the partnership through an MOU, under which the  government would cover tuition and living expenses for Bahamian postgraduate students pursuing specialty training in Rwanda.

Yesterday, Dr Darville noted most Bahamian doctors who receive scholarships or training opportunities in North America prefer to remain abroad after completing their studies. 

However, he said officials want to encourage students to return home, adding: “This is the reason why we’re looking at the motherland now so that we can develop a better working relationship.”

In his remarks, Mr Davis stressed that the growing demand for eye care and quality healthcare is a priority for his government. 

He added that partnerships such as the one with Rwanda are vital to strengthening the country’s medical system, noting that “we can’t do it alone.”

“We welcome the initiative,” he said. “You have my total support.”

He said when his administration assumed office, many hospital wards were closed, including the eye ward, which he said had been inoperable for at least three years as complaints mounted from people in need of eye care services.

“We went about trying to get beds, renovating those wards, which has now happened, renovating the emergency room, which I expect to be open, Dr Darville, in the next month,” he said. 

“It’s been five years and I could say that we have arranged financing for the refurbishment and redevelopment of the eye ward. I don’t know why the funds have not yet been released, but we negotiated that at least three months ago so we expect the work to be done earnestly on that in short order.”