Residents going through the screening
GCB Bank Limited, in partnership with Third Eyecare & Vision Centre, based in Accra, has organised a free eye screening exercise for hundreds of people in Effiakuma and its surrounding communities near Takoradi in the Western Region.
The exercise which formed part of the bank’s social responsibility interventions was aimed at providing free medications to people with minor eye conditions, while those with serious defects were referred.
It drew a large number of people from the community, among which various eye defects were diagnosed by the team of health personnel from Third Eyecare & Vision Centre.
Cataract, described as one of the leading cause of blindness, was identified by the health personnel as one of the problems facing the people.
Other problems identified by the team of health personnel during the screening exercise included refractive errors, presbyopia, conjunctivitis and glaucoma suspects.
Dr Kwame Obeng-Nyarko, Managing Director of Third Eyecare &Vision Centre, mentioned that early intervention in various eye conditions could save the public their sights, adding, “Once you lose your sight, it cannot be regained.”
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to also undergo regular medical check-ups so that the various ailments of the eyes could be corrected or treated.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, Emmanuel Kojo Kwarteng, Corporate Affairs Officer of the GCB, said the bank has prioritised health under its corporate social responsibility programme.
Mr Kwarteng stated that the yearly exercise takes care of the women, children and the aged in the communities.
He said the bank had been organising similar exercise in Accra for the past three years, during which hundreds of people were examined and treated defects in their eyes, adding, “This time round we decided to come to the Western Region.”
FROM Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi