The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, in partnership with the Cure Blindness, a US-based non-government organisation, is offering a free eye screening and surgeries for persons suffering from various eye diseases in the country.
Dr. Curtis Addai, an Optometrist at the KATH, who made this known, said the free screening and surgeries were being carried out during outreach programmes in various communities in the country.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a day’s free eye screening exercise, at Toase in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality, Dr, Addai said the exercise had already started in some communities.
He mentioned Navrongo, where about 1,200 persons with various eye diseases had been screened, Tumu 503, Asante Bekwai 253, Kumasi-Manhyia 260, and Toase, where about 200 people were benefiting from the exercise.
Dr Addai, mentioned glaucoma and cataract as major causes of blindness if not checked, detected and treated early and stressed the need for regular eye screening to avoid complications.
He appealed to Ghanaians to take advantage of the exercises to identify the status of their eye health.
Dr Addai, explained that glaucoma, which caused 80 percent blindness could hide in the human body and cause irreversible blindness without any earlier severe pain or symptom, whiles cataract, though the most avoidable disease, could cause eye pressure and subsequently blindness.
He cautioned against the habit of waiting till severe eye complications before rushing to hospital.
The free screening exercise was organized by the eye unit of KATH under the auspices of the Toase traditional council.
Nana Kontembrantem Kusi Appiah, the Toase Mawerehene, said the health of the people was of great concern to the traditional council.
He said that health was both a worthy and wealthy commodity, hence the decision of the council to initiate programmes that would help improve the health status of the people.
Nana Appiah urged the people to take advantage of the exercise to improve their health status.