A beneficiary going through the screening exercise
More than 600 residents within the Essikado-Ketan Constituency of the Western Region have benefitted from a free eye screening exercise organised by former Western Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles Bissue.
The screening exercise held at Kojokrom Market in the constituency, was in partnership with the BaaMensa Foundation; a local philanthropic organisation.
The beneficiary residents including students, drivers, public officers, traders and the aged were screened for various eye conditions. Those with underlying disorders or diseases were given medications or prescribed lenses.
It was revealed that some of the participants had common eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract, floaters, dry and irritable eyes, and refractive errors.
Some of them were advised to seek advance care at the district or regional health referral centre to help correct a disorder.
Addressing the media, Mr. Bissue, who is an aspiring parliamentary candidate for Essikado-Ketan on the ticket of the NPP, emphasised the need for Ghanaians to undergo routine eye checks.
He stated “the eye is an important organ of the human body that ought to be protected.”
He asserted that a number of Ghanaians are unaware of conditions affecting their vision, adding that the underlying factor has mainly been the cost of seeking treatment.
“I believe early detection of an eye defect is key to an effective treatment and management,” he pointed out.
He assured that the exercise would be extended to other communities within the constituency, adding, “This is not a political thing. It is for the people of Essikado-Ketan and its environs”.
“The exercise ends today but we are looking at possibilities of extending it across the constituency,” he added.
The Executive Director for BaaMensa Foundation, Kwame BaaMensa, stressed the need to scale up efforts in eye care. He mentioned that a team of experts from India will be mobilised for a specialised service to attend to critical cases identified.
“As soon as we complete our analysis on cases of defects, we will be able to mobilise a team from India to see to those defects.
“So our records after today will indicate how many people will need such services, and we will attend to that,” he disclosed.
He expressed satisfaction with the turnout and the support received from Mr. Bissue.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi