Saint James Hospital Group in conjunction with the Libyan government’s Health Department has performed eight corneal transplants for Libyan patients in the Eye Hospitals of Tripoli and Benghazi.

The operations were performed as part of a programme under the auspices of the Libyan National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness.

The ophthalmic team, which was composed of consultant ophthalmologist Franco Mercieca and his assistants, Brian Bondin, Mark Debono and Mylene Finuliar performed three corneal transplants in Tripoli on 12 December, 2006 and five more in Benghazi on 6 August, 2007.

The venture was part of a programme of cooperation that the Saint James Hospital Group has prepared to provide and work out together with Libyan medical teams. The programme in Benghazi also included the review of patients and clinical presentations for the local staff.

This was the fourth such medical hands on programme successfully carried out between the Saint James Hospital Group and the Libyan hospitals, the first two sessions having been held in Tajoura Heart Hospital, where specialised cardiology interventions were carried out.