A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed, yesterday afternoon, between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Rotary Club of Bagatelle, during a press conference held in Port-Louis, in the presence of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, the District Governor of the Rotary Club, Mr Luderce Camalon, and the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Bagatelle, Mr. Amaresh Ramlugan.
Regarding surgeries for strabismus, it is recalled that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Rotary Club of Bagatelle and the Ministry of Health and Wellness in 2023. Subsequently, in April, four squint surgeons from India conducted 64 successful surgeries on Mauritian children, facilitated by the collaboration between the Rotary Club of Bagatelle and the Rotary Club of Pondichery-Agaram.
Beyond surgeries, consultations were extended to 175 Mauritian patients, with specialists recommending personalised solutions, including eyeglasses and targeted eye exercises, demonstrating the positive outcomes of international cooperation in addressing critical healthcare needs.
Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister emphasised the strengthening collaboration between the Rotary Club and his Ministry, revealing preparations for the arrival of a team of four squint specialists from the Rotary Club of Pondicherry-Agaram in April. This team, comprised of Paediatric Ophthalmologists from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, is set to perform 20 squint surgeries and attend to 75 patients with milder degrees of squint during their stay in Mauritius, he stated.
The Minister, moreover, highlighted the foreign doctors’ multifaceted contribution, and stated that in the past two years, 60 squint surgeries were performed annually—56 in 2022 and 64 in 2023. He further stressed the doctors’ commitment to training Mauritian medical professionals, emphasising that this educational aspect will continue during their April 2024 visit. Underlining the importance of addressing squint at a young age, he underscored its role in reducing stigma and mitigating psychological effects on growing children.
Other speakers, including Mr Camalon and Mr Ramlugan, recalled the significance of the Rotary Club, particularly in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to combat the strabismus disease in children. Mr Camalon broached the Rotary Club’s broader health initiatives, citing an upcoming Mental Health Awareness Day scheduled for early February, and recognizing the pressing issue it poses for young individuals.
