Ghana marks World Sight Day

Acting Head of the Eye Unit at the Ghana Health Service, Dr James Addy, says four out of every five Ghanaians get blind through avoidable diseases such as cataract, glaucoma and diabetes.

Sadly, people who suffer from these diseases do not seek early medical treatment as most of the cases are in underserved areas of the country.

Dr Addy said the number of eye care professionals is inadequate.

He was speaking at this year’s World Sight Day in Accra, where he called for stronger collaboration between health workers and the public, to eliminate preventable eye diseases and blindness.

Meanwhile, more than two hundred people October 13 took part in a free eye screening exercise at Legon to mark World Sight Day.

At the programmme, governments, particularly Health Ministers were asked to allocate more funds to fight blindness in the Country.

The Medical Doctor for Permeef Eye Care, Dr Emefa Titiati said the free eye screening exercise was to draw the attention of the public to the need to pay serious attention to their eye sight.