Latest news from the Caribbean

Many countries in the region, particularly those dependent on tourism, continue to see a decline in their revenue. This has led to difficulties by some Governments in meeting their obligations. Many businesses have been forced to lay-off or close temporarily, resulting in increased levels of unemployment.

Heavy rains and flooding due to storms seriously affected several countries, deepening economic difficulties. Severe flooding in Jamaica resulted in loss of life and damage to infrastructure. Meanwhile, flooding in the Hinterland Regions of Guyana marooned many communities for several days. Hurricane Earl brought several inches of rain, resulting in damage to agriculture and the road network of Antigua.

In Haiti there are reports of growing disenchantment with the slow pace of the Recovery Programme. With nearly a million people homeless or living in ‘tent cities', the Government and international community are keeping a watchful eye on threatening storms/hurricanes. Flooding has already caused several deaths in one camp in the capital, heightening safety and health concerns. Additionally, growing incidents of rape and sexual assaults in the camps have exacerbated an already difficult living situation.

Highlights from our projects

• The Belize Health Information System is up and running at the BCVI  (Belize Council for the Visually Impaired) National Eye Clinic in Belize City. It was decided that the most effective way to roll it out to BCVI's other four sites was to place a server at each location. To facilitate this, the Pan American Health Organization donated an additional server, Care Belize provided their server and Sightsavers purchased a third server. This will ensure eye health data from around the country is included in the Information System.
• The Belmopan Primary Eye Care Clinic was reopened and all five primary eye care clinics countrywide have shown improved attendance and more services delivered.
• The optometry and refractionist programmes began at the start of the academic year at the University of Guyana, with a class of 32 students.
• Equipment has been shipped to Haiti to start a vision centre and operating theatre at a public hospital in Pentionville, Port au Prince.
• 35 children who are blind or have low vision, their family members and teachers came from all over Belize to BCVI's Annual Summer Camp. BCVI staff, itinerant teachers and volunteers worked with campers to prepare them for the 2010/11 school year by giving them training in Braille, orientation and mobility and communication skills.

BCVIs 13th annual summer camp

Baroness Floella Benjamin speaks in the Caribbean