Residents from Ejura and surrounding communities have thronged the Ejura Government Hospital to benefit from a free cataract surgery exercise aimed at restoring sight to people suffering from vision impairment.

As early as 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, many prospective patients had already occupied the Out-Patient Department (OPD) of the hospital. Most travelled from distant communities and arrived well ahead of time to avoid transportation challenges that could prevent them from accessing the life-changing medical service.

The five-day exercise, scheduled from Monday, 19 January to Friday, 23 January 2026, is expected to serve more than 500 patients. This follows an extensive screening exercise conducted for nearly 2,000 residents across the Ejura Sekyedumasi Municipality, during which numerous cataract cases were identified.

Cataract is a common eye condition that causes clouding of the eye’s natural lens, leading to blurred vision and, in severe cases, blindness if left untreated. It mainly affects older persons and can significantly hinder daily activities such as reading, walking and working. However, it can be effectively treated through a relatively simple surgical procedure that restores vision.

One of the beneficiaries, 65-year-old Paul Amanhyia from Drobon, said he arrived at the hospital the night before because of the distance and unreliable transport from his community.

“Our place is very far, and because of transportation problems, I decided to come early and wait here so I don’t miss the surgery,” he explained.

Another patient, 65-year-old Victoria Akosua Dzabah from Ejura, said she has lived with poor eyesight for the past five years and is hopeful the surgery will transform her life.

“For the past five years, I have not been seeing well. I struggle to move around and do my daily activities. If this surgery restores my sight, it will be like getting my life back,” she said.

The Ophthalmic Nurse in charge of the Eye Clinic at the Ejura Government Hospital, Jemima Okyere, said a ten-day intensive screening was carried out across the municipality, revealing that many residents are unknowingly living with cataracts.

She explained that cataracts are mainly caused by ageing and prolonged exposure to sunlight, adding that poor lighting can worsen vision problems and delay treatment.

Ms Okyere urged patients not to fear the procedure, stressing that it is safe and effective.

“Some people say the surgery is painful, so they refuse to come. I want to encourage everyone to have hope. At the end of the process, your sight will be restored,” she added.

The Member of Parliament for Ejura Sekyedumasi, Bawa Muhammed Braimah, said the intervention followed an approach by Day Break Africa Mission Project, which presented data indicating a high prevalence of cataracts in the municipality.

“The data they presented to us was alarming. Cataract was very common in the area, and they were ready to come and support with free surgeries,” he stated.

He noted that vision impairment significantly affects productivity and quality of life, particularly among the elderly.

“As leaders, we saw this as an opportunity to help our people. We reviewed their budget and decided to sponsor the project,” he said.

According to the MP, losing one’s sight is equivalent to losing one’s livelihood, as it limits the ability to work and live independently. He expressed hope that the initiative would help restore dignity and independence to hundreds of residents in the municipality.