Ghana Eye Foundation Presents Guidelines To GHS

The Ghana Eye Foundation of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), last Friday, in Accra, presented to the GHS 200 copies of a Booklet on how to treat eye problems in Ghana and 2005 Annual Care Report valued at GH¢ 1, 500.

According to Mrs  Peggy Dzodzomenyo, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Ghana Eye Foundation, the manual described the common causes of suppurative corneal ulcer and how to treat it.

She said the manual outlined the predisposing factors and important steps to be followed in the management of an individual who presented himself to the health facility with suppurative corneal ulcer, suppurative keratitis and other microbial diseases that affect the eye.

Suppurative Keratitis is an infective corneal ulcer which may be caused by bacteria, fungi or protozoa with pus forming in the cornea which may in very severe cases extend to affect the whole eye.

'It may follow corneal trauma e.g. by airborne particles like vegetable matter like rice husk, sand or metallic piece entering eye and causing damage to the surface of the eye,' she stated.

Mrs  Dzodzomenyo noted that prevention of blindness in Ghana had become a matter of concern to the Ghana Eye Foundation because the World Heath Organisation, some time ago reported that eye problems could double by the year 2020 if nothing was done about it.

She said the manual was based on research findings in two studies carried out at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Agogo and Bawku Hospital Eye Care Units.

Mrs Peggy Dzodzomenyo was of the conviction that the manual would benefit clinicians and medical technologists as well as technicians.

She explained that the foundation was set up to support GHS in eye care delivery and appealed to non governmental organisations, corporate bodies and individuals to endeavour to assist the foundation so that they could do more in ensuring the prevention of blindness in the country.

Dr  Thomas Awua-Siaw, Director of Institutional Care Division of the GHS, who received the items on behalf of the GHS, expressed gratitude to the foundation for the kind gesture and said it would go a long way to benefit the GHS.