Saint James Hospital Group in conjunction with the Libyan government’s Health Department has performed eight corneal transplants on 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 Franco Mercieca (Consultant Ophthalmologist) and his assistants Brian Bondin, Mark Debono and Mylene Finuliar, performed three corneal transplants in Tripoli in December last year and five corneal transplants in Benghazi last August.

The venture was part of a full programme of co-operation the Saint James Hospital Group prepared and worked out together with the Libyan medical teams. The programme in Benghazi also included the review of patients and clinical presentations for local personnel.

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