Wait is over for facial surgery

THE WAIT is over for some patients awaiting facial and oral surgery in TT, as a team of  40 representatives from the University of Tennessee comprising surgeons, nurses and medical students, is visiting TT for one week to perform free maxilla facial and oral surgery on patients. The doctors will be in TT for one week, and will work together with students from the Dental School at Mt Hope.

Dr Ronald Staples of the University of Tennessee will lead a team of 12 doctors at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC). The rest will visit communities to offer dental and other medical services in El Socorro, Santa Cruz, Arima and Valencia. Health Minister John Rahael yesterday toured the EWMSC, where he met with 25 patients awaiting screening for surgery. Those 25 patients will be narrowed down to a smaller number, as only the most serious cases will be attended to. “Many of the patients we have today are children who have been waiting for years on the list. “These patients have mostly problems with their jaws and dental problems, and the Government hopes to bring relief to our citizens by inviting doctors from abroad, at no cost to the people of TT and the Government,” said Rahael.

Dr Staples of the University of Tennessee told Newsday that he and his team were travelling with the South Baptist Ministry from Tennes-see, who were also in TT to perform humanitarian work. Staples said most of the cases for facial surgery in TT were a result of birth defects. “We have seen some serious cases here, and we do not want to hurt any of the patients. So, if we realise the surgery cannot be done in TT, the patient will be flown out of the country,” said Staples.