Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospital opens in Ghana

By Bernice Bessey
An Indian eye specialist, Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal, has opened a new state-of-the-art eye care facility in Accra to fill the deficit in ophthalmology care in the country.

The hospital has modern equipment to treat and care for eye problems such as glaucoma and cataract.

According to Prof. Dr. Amar Agarwal, the 14,000-square feet facility is to provide first class eye care service to the citizenry and other members of the sub-region.

He said the advanced diagnostic and eye care treatment with optical facility ensures comprehensive eye care under one roof, and saves time, money and the stress of traveling abroad for retinal treatment for serious cataract surgeries, glaucoma management and pediatric eye care.

He said the eye hospital has been in operation since 1957, and hopes to turn the fortunes of Ghana's health sector into health tourism to attract other countries to seek the best ophthalmic care.

“The advance and modern ophthalmology practices in the hospital can be felt with the presence of hi tech investigational and diagnostic equipment, meant for imaging and scanning purpose. The equipment like AB Scan, Auto Perimeter, Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) etc., not only support the ophthalmologists with precise diagnosis and status of eye ailments, but also helps in the decision of appropriate treatment,” he added.

Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospital was inaugurated by the Minister of Health, Mr. Alexander Segbefia, at Tesano, last Wednesday.

According to the Minister, there are 90 ophthalmologists taking the responsibility to serve the population of over 26 million people, and 50 percent of these ophthalmologists are based in Accra.

He indicated that the three regions in the north are the most affected, with a low number of ophthalmologists.

He was hopeful that the establishment of a comprehensive specialist facility of this nature in the country would help to bridge the accessibility gap in eye care.

“I am happy to note that the idea behind this building is to help support the extremely low number of ophthalmologists in Ghana. The increasing population of Ghana, and the available health care facility, has always been a concern of society. One of the areas of concern is an eye care facility, which is among our priority issues, and which should addressed soon for the betterment of society.

“We are glad that Dr. Agarwal's eye hospital has been in eye care since 1957, thus, almost six decades, as old as Ghana’s independence. It is known for pioneering interventions in the field of ophthalmologic care, with several works to its credit. Dr. Agarwal's Department (R&D) has over the period developed an excellent team of highly skilled ophthalmic specialist, surgeons and para medics to assist in its growth plans,” he noted.

Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital operates in 14 countries across the globe in over 67 hospitals, and Ghana is the 16th country in Africa where the hospital is operating.

The hospital has its presence in the country to address eye ailments of both the rich and less privileged.

UNDP engages media on women empowerment
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has engaged some media practitioners in Accra on the best ways to encourage and empower women to take up leadership roles in the communities and the nation as a whole.

The media engagement was held recently to identify challenges hindering women from putting themselves out for positions that would translate into holistic national development.

Among some of the challenges identified were poor traditions and customs, stigma, stereotype, and prejudice the women faced in their endeavours.

Journalists, mostly from The Chronicle Newspaper, Daily Graphic, Daily Guide, Multimedia, TV3, Finder, Daily Searchlight and GBC among others, agreed that the problem with women and leadership must be addressed through the traditions and customs the various ethnic groups practice.

Though they pledged to propagate and promote issues concerning in the green light, however, they believed that women must also gather confidence like their male counterparts to be selected to lead.