By Kekeli K. Blamey
Sogakope (V/R), Oct. 11, GNA – Sightsavers, an international organisation, have collaborated with the South Tongu District Health Directorate and the management of the District Hospital to screen hundreds of residents and donate 62 pairs of eyeglasses to support eye health services in the enclave.
The programme, held on the theme, “Eye care for all: Integrating vision into primary health care,” formed part of activities marking World Sight Day, and strengthening local eye health interventions and improving access to vision support for residents.
Mr David Agyemang, the Country Director of Sightsavers Ghana, said there was the need for greater investment in eye health and stronger collaboration among the government, private sector and other stakeholders to make eye care services and corrective glasses affordable and accessible to all.
He called on the government, particularly the Ministry of Health, to strengthen the integration of eye health into primary healthcare services to ensure that people in underserved communities could access essential eye care.
Mr Agyemang said the cost of eyeglasses remained a challenge for many people and urged stakeholders to work together to reduce the financial barriers that prevented individuals from obtaining the vision support they needed.
He said Sightsavers had worked with government stakeholders in more than 30 countries across Africa and Asia and had contributed to eye health interventions in Ghana, including efforts to eliminate trachoma and prevent river blindness.
He noted that the organisation had supported the distribution of medicines to about five million people across the country during the year, to protect them against river blindness, one of the causes of avoidable blindness.
Sightsavers is an international organisation, working to prevent avoidable blindness and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
Mr Agyemang said the observance of World Sight Day provided an opportunity to remind the public that protecting their sight required regular screening, early treatment and responsible eye care practices.
He cautioned the public against applying unprescribed substances and traditional concoctions to the eyes and urged people experiencing eye problems to seek prompt medical attention.
Madam Mavis Agumeh, the South Tongu District Director of Health, said early detection and appropriate management of eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and refractive errors were essential to preventing avoidable blindness and reducing the risk of severe visual impairment.
She said about 80 people had undergone screening at the time of the interview, with more residents still arriving to access the service.
Madam Agumeh said detailed district-level statistics on eye conditions were not immediately available but noted that cases of cataracts, glaucoma and refractive errors were being managed at health facilities in the area.
She encouraged residents to visit health facilities for regular eye examinations, preferably every six months, rather than waiting until they experienced pain or noticeable changes in their vision.
“Do not wait until you experience pain or changes in your vision before visiting a health facility. Early detection enables health professionals to identify problems and take appropriate action,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to Sightsavers for supporting the district’s World Sight Day activities, saying the intervention had helped strengthen efforts to promote eye health among residents.
A beneficiary, Madam Hlordzi Emelia, a resident of Sogakope, said the free screening and provision of eyeglasses had been helpful in addressing her difficulty seeing clearly from a distance, particularly in the afternoon.
She said she received a pair of glasses free of charge and was advised to report to the South Tongu District Hospital for further assessment and treatment.
Madam Emelia commended Sightsavers for providing the service at no cost and called for the initiative to be sustained to enable more people to benefit.
She urged the organisation to continue supporting residents with eye care needs, adding that regular examinations were important for identifying and addressing vision problems early.
World Sight Day is observed annually in October to raise awareness of blindness and vision impairment and to promote eye health globally, and out of 129 screened persons, 17 had cataract, three had glaucoma, and 41 had refractive error.
After the screening, some 45 beneficiaries were referred to hospitals for further screening and possible surgeries.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo