Dominica government outlines world-class facilities of Brenda Strafford Foundation Eye Centre

Roseau, Dominica: The new Brenda Strafford Foundation Eye Centre has been commissioned at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital. This fully equipped centre is another step towards a resilient and modern health system that will serve Dominicans and patients from other Caribbean islands. 

Minister for Public Works and the Digital Economy and Featured Speaker Cassanni Laville noted that this facility would aid the Ministry in giving effective care to citizens. 

“We will see the establishment of a world-class facility for eye care right here in Dominica China Friendship Hospital. This is a major achievement for our health system and is yet another strategic accomplishment in our ongoing efforts to provide more equitable and effective health care services to our citizens, “Laville stated. 

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and New Health Investment Kent Edwards represented that the new clinic falls in line with Dominica’s Sustainable development Goals. He thanked the Foundation for the assistance that they have given to Dominica over the years. 

“This facility is more conducive to providing care to our people and will indeed provide a better work environment for all the staff. The Ministry can boost our eye care services to be on par with that of the wider world. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Brenda Strafford Foundation and thank the foundation for its assistance which has given the Ministry of Health along with boost,” Edward noted. 

Heads of the Ophthalmology Department at the DCFH, Dr Hazel Shillingford-Rickets, stated that although Dominica has seen great development since the establishment of the eye department, this new eye centre can become a centre of excellence. 

“I can promptly state that despite the difficulties and frustration at times, Dominica has made tremendous strides in eye care from the time of the establishment of the Department of Ophthalmology funded by the Brenda Strafford Foundation back in 1985 to the formal commissioning of the gis facility today- 12th days of May 2022. 

Going forward, expect the Brenda Strafford Foundation Eye Centre to be a centre of excellence in eye care,” Dr Shilliong-Rickets stated. 

Office in Charge of the Office of the Chief Executive officer of Dominica’s Hospitals Authority, Nicole Laville said she is “proud to celebrate this momentous commissioning and celebrate this milestone achievement.”