By Jamie Clearfield | Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital continues to expand its cataract outreach program to rural Ghana. This past month saw the outreach team head to Gyetease in Sekyere Central District. Though only about an hour and a half from Kumasi, Gyetease is a world away in terms of readily available access to ophthalmologic care. Without any local ophthalmologists, those with eye trouble are seen only infrequently and/or have to travel to seek care. In this largely agricultural region, blindness and other eye ailments can be a terrible burden for patients and their families. The last outreach program to this region was over two years ago.
KATH’s clinical screening team examined nearly 1,000 people and 103 patients received surgery during the 3 days of surgery held. Of these, there were 3 children who received their vision back and 2 teens. Blindness among children and adolescents is particularly damaging with major impacts on children’s cognitive and physical development, and long-term social and economic challenges for their families. By reaching continuing to its outreach programs and regularly being able to visit villages lacking any ophthalmologic care, KATH is helping to reduce the burden of both childhood and adult blindness across Ghana.
KATH and HCP continue to thank donors like you for your continued support!
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