The Doobay Medical and Research Centre on Tuesday commissioned the Latchmin Kissoon and Family Eye Clinic at its facility in Annandale, East Coast Demerara, expanding access to affordable eye care services.
Speaking on behalf of his mother and her seven children, Dhaman Kissoon said the family, which migrated to Canada in the early 1980s, decided to give back after achieving personal, professional, and family goals. “After spending years and having achieved our goals in studies or work, we decided that it’s time to give back to the community,” he said.He noted that his mother’s name, Latchmin, means light and vision, and said the family stepped in to support the project after learning that a previous effort to fund equipment had not been fulfilled.
In brief remarks, Latchmin Kissoon expressed gratitude for being part of the initiative. She said she and her children had lived in Canada for 47 years and were honoured to contribute. “I thank Dr Doobay for choosing me and my family for this occasion,” she said, adding, “the goal is to help people achieve good health.”
Founder, Dr Doobay, thanked the Kissoon family, donors, and supporters for sustaining the facility’s growth. He said diabetes and high blood pressure are leading causes of eye disease and blindness in Guyana, with many patients unable to afford private care and risking permanent vision loss without early treatment.
The new clinic aims to address this gap by offering comprehensive eye services at about 70 per cent below private sector costs, including cataract surgery, retinal care for diabetic and hypertensive patients, full eye examinations, and vision restoration treatments. Patients unable to pay will still receive care.
The centre operates as a non-profit, ensuring no patient is turned away due to financial constraints. Its dialysis programme, which began with six machines, has expanded to serve more than 250 patients nationwide, many of whom would otherwise lack access to life-saving treatment.
The eye clinic is staffed by volunteer ophthalmologists providing services at reduced costs, with the same standards of care as private facilities. It also complements existing dialysis and stroke rehabilitation services, offering integrated care for patients with chronic conditions.
The clinic is partnering with McMaster University to research the impact of diabetes and hypertension on eye health, aiming to improve treatment and prevention strategies in Guyana.
Among those attending the commissioning were Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at McMaster University, Dr Sonia Anand, and Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Sébastien Sigouin, along with several donors and supporters.
A section of the gathering at the commissioning
