The Ashanti Regional Ophthalmologist, Dr. Kwadwo Amoah has bemoaned the lack of personnel, equipment and space for eye health in the region.

Ashanti region has a high distribution of personnel, but only four ophthalmologists are working under the Ghana Health Service, serving a population of over 4 million.

Dr. Amoah says this is woefully inadequate and has called for more investments to address the gap in the provision of eye health.

“Generally, our situation is not bad in the sense that this is relative, when we compare ourselves to other parts of the country, our situation is not bad.

"This means that there’s more room for improvement. We really have a lot of gaps.

"Though the number of personnel for eye care in the region is relatively better, it doesn’t mean that it is ideal; we need a lot more," Dr. Kwadwo Amoah, Ashanti Regional Ophthalmologist has observed.

Dr. Amoah however, admits eye health infrastructure as well as personnel; is woefully inadequate and has called for more investments to address the gap in the provision of eye health.

“Apart from the teaching hospital which holds the greater proportion of the eye specialists in the region, Ghana Health Service essentially has only about four ophthalmologists serving the population. Roughly, more than four million. So if you are looking at the ideal, it is woefully inadequate.”

He was speaking on the sidelines of a free eye care screening for staff of the Manhyia Palace organiesd by the Orbis International in commemoration of World Sight Day.

Orbis International, with over 40 years’ experience in volunteer eye care, reached out to staff at the Manhyia Palace with free eye care.

The organisation’s volunteer medical professionals have performed more than 500,000 eye surgeries and trained thousands of doctors, nurses, and other health workers with the help of its Flying Eye Hospital.

Staff and some traditional leaders took advantage of the exercise to screen their eyes as they received free medication and advice. 

Under the theme, “Love your eyes at the workplace”, it also saw residents of Atwima Koforidua and Asuofua in the Nwabiagya South Municipality and Atwima Nwabiagya North district respectively also receiving free eye care.

Programmes Director at  Orbis International, Adolf Olenu advised workers to take their eye health serious as he explained the rationale behind the selection of Manhyia Palace for the programme to Myjoyonline.com.

“We feel that it is important we bring this screening to them on this special day, share with them the importance of good eye heath and also provide them with eye screening to ensure that they would be able to go about their work with good eye health.”