NATION NEWS 05/24/2022 : EYE SPECIALIST Dr Kim Jebodhsingh is honoured to be the first Barbadian woman to receive the Anthony N. Sabga Award for Caribbean Excellence.
Dr Jebodhsingh was presented with the award and received a cheque for TT$250 000 (BDS$83 300) from chairman of the Ansa McAL Foundation, Andrew Sabga, at a ceremony at State House last Friday hosted by President The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.
The new laureate is a joint winner in the Public and Civic Contributions category with Anuska Sonai, an information and communication technology (ICT) entrepreneur from Suriname.
Dame Sandra described Dr Jebodhsingh as “an outstanding woman of the soil”.
Jebodhsingh, 48, an ophtalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon, said: “This award for me is such an honour to be recognised in such a prestigious way for the work that I love to do and really the late Mr Anthony Sabga, who had such foresight to launch an award which has and will continue to support the development of many facets of the Caribbean.
“My fundamental belief is that we all have God-given gifts and talents that we are meant to use to better the world, so I have been just carrying on smartly playing my part, and to be recognised for this is really quite something.”
The laureate, who works in Barbados and the wider Caribbean, also provides citizens with pro bono eye care services.
She established an eye clinic in Barbados, has delivered numerous pro bono talks on eye care and in 2021 established The Eye Clinic, a medical treatment and educational facility.
Jebodhsingh is the co-founder of the Caribbean Ophtalmology Research Alliance (CORA), a charity which raises funds to provide research grants for research into eye diseases that affect Caribbean citizens.
“We really need research into eye diseases that affect us Caribbean people, as we are unique in so many ways – race, diet, environment. Eye care and eye research is a necessity to save sight and lives,” Jebodhsingh said.
“It has been a tremendous journey for me so far and it is my dream to continue the future expansion and development of eye care, eye research, education and health and educational opportunities through sport,” she added.
Nominations for the Anthony N. Sabga Award For Caribbean Excellence are chosen from residents in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago as well as from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Candidates are required to have four characteristics, including “a track record of consistently superior work that has demonstrated excellence, leadership and pioneering ability. The work must be a benchmark referenced by others in their field”. (HH)