The nine-day screening exercise dubbed “Avoidable Blindness Elimination Project” was undertaken by a team of ophthalmologist from the Friends Eye Center, the brain child of Kog Kriationz Network, an Accra based Non-Governmental Organization.

Beneficiaries of the screening also received eye drops, glasses and befitted from surgery at no cost.

Speaking at a short ceremony at Sefwi Wiaso, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kog Kriationz Network, Mr. Eric Owusu Gyimah said about 80% of eye related ailments could have been prevented if proper measures and regular check ups were adopted.

He further admonished the people to adhere to routine screening of the eye to avoid preventable blindness.

The Kog Kriationz Network CEO further thanked Oheneba Kasempa Enterprise, Eye Foundation of America, Friends Eye Centre, Nicholas Aackaah Foundation, Sefwi Traditional Area for their collaboration.

On his part, the Omanhene of the Wiaso Sefwi Traditional Area, Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama II described the project as first of its kind and unprecedented in his area and lauded the NGO for the initiative.

He pledged his fullest support for the project and called on individuals and corporate entities to support a worthy course such as these as he also stressed the need for regular checks on the eye.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The exercise held last Saturday formed part of the facility’s corporate social responsibility and is expected to cover all 11 districts of the Upper West Region.

Dr Zakarea Alhassan Balure, an Optometrist and the Manager of Bliss Eye Care facility in an interaction with the Ghana News Agency at the beginning of the exercise observed that little attention had been paid to eye care needs of the pupils.

He said a child with eye defect could lead to further damage of the victim’s eye, adding that a child with eye defect was often difficult to train, hence the free screening exercise.

Dr Balure said the screening started in the Jirapa district and major issues such as trachoma, allergy conditions, refractive errors, cataract and bulging eyes among others were identified and corrected with various medications and spectacles.

He was impressed with the turn out for the screening, saying it was an indication that people recognised the importance of a healthy eye to the effective functioning of the human body.

The Bliss Eye Care Manager commended the teachers and the Municipal Education Directorate for their role in organising the students for the exercise.

Dr Balure disclosed that the screening for the Wa Municipal alone would not cost less than 10,000 Ghana cedis.

Madam Afusata Hamidu, the Wa Municipal Director of Education noted that the screening and correction of eye defects among pupils would go a long way to help those who otherwise would not have been able to afford the cost of treatment.

She said eye defects often had effects on pupils’ performance in school and hoped that the exercise could be conducted periodically to ensure that pupils with eye defects were identified early and treated.

Rabi Majeed, one of the pupils said she had difficulty in seeing writings on the board from a distance and hoped that through the screening her problem would be solved to boost both her studies and comfort outside the classroom.

Bliss Eye Care’s free eye screening exercise for basic school pupils in the Upper West Region is under the project “Blissful Sight for Kids” (BS4Ks) which is being sponsored by Vision 2020 in Switzerland.

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Source: GNA

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The day is marked with various important advocacy and communications events on eye care.

Audience targeted include diabetics, persons with family history of visual impairment or blindness, policymakers, government officials, partners/donors and the wider health community.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Stronger Together”, with a call on the various stakeholders to work together to help reduce incidents of visual impairment and blindness.

Currently, in Ghana, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), covers the treatment of some ocular diseases. That notwithstanding; there are challenges of shortage of health workers at all levels.

There are very few ophthalmologists, optometrists and nurses; hence the targets in the Global Action Plan are most likely to be missed.

As in other African countries, Ghana needs political leaders, donors and other stakeholders to increase investments in eye health.

Below is an infographic that captures briefly the state of eye care in Ghana and what can be done about the situation.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post World Sight Day 2016: The state of eye care in Ghana [Infographic] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.