Report all eye problems to the hospital-DrDedzo

Koforidua, Feb. 21, GNA -The Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, DrMcDamienDedzo has called on the public to report all eye problems to the hospital for appropriate management to avoid preventable blindness.

DrDedzo said a research conducted in the region indicated that, untreated cataract is the cause of half of all preventable blindness in the region while glaucoma  causes more than 16 per cent of blindness in the area.

He made the call at the inauguration of the Glaucoma Centre of the Koforidua Regional Hospital on Wednesday.

Sightsavers International, an international non-governmental organisation donated the visual field analyzer and other equipment for the  centre while the hospital provided the building and furnishing at the cost of GH¢40,000.

He said the situation therefore calls for the management of cataract and glaucoma to help reduce blindness drastically. 

DrDedzo called on health workers in the region to take advantage of the visual field testing machine at the glaucoma centre to have their eyes tested for early detection and management of any traces of glaucoma.

The Director in-charge of Eye Services at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Oscar Debrah said Ghana is the country with the second highest cases of glaucoma in the world.

DrDebrah said, many people suffering from glaucoma are unaware that they have the disease and by the time they noticed it their sight have been destroyed.

He said it was for that reason that the GHS had decided to provide all regional, teaching and three district hospitals in each region with the Vision Field Analyzer for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Speaking on behalf f the Country Director of the Sightsavers International, Mr George Akanlu, and Programme Manager of the organisation said his organization had supported the Esstern Region in the treatment of eye care diseases since 1994.

He said for the next five years, his organisation would spend one million dollars to help in the improvement of eye care for children in the region and worked with District Health Directorates to ensure the training of more service providers in the districts.

Earlier in a welcoming address, the Director of the Hospital, Dr Kwame Anim-Boamah expressed appreciation of the management of the hospital to Sightsavers for the donation.

Sightsavers presented a vehicle valued at GH¢ 74,000 Ghana Cedis to then Regional Directorate of Health Services for monitoring and provision of services.

GNA