Ophthalmologists Urged To Embark On Outreach Programmes

Nana Ama Amissah III, Queenmother of Mankessim has called on Ophthalmologists to embark on outreach programmes to help people with eye diseases but do not know they have them. She noted that since regular medical check-up was not the “culture” of Ghanaians, there was the need for health service providers to reach out to the people. Nana Amissah noted that a lot of people needed eye care but did not know and therefore did not bother to go for treatment until it was too late. “Health service providers should not always expect patients to go to them. They should also reach out to the people”, she said. The Queenmother commended the Christian Eye Clinic for accepting patients with National Health Insurance Cards even though it was not a service provider under the Scheme. Nana Amissah said arrangements were being made for the team to extend their services to educational institutions in Makessim and its environs for the benefit of the students. She said she was also arraigning for a breast cancer screening for the women. Ms. Janet Benewaa, Ophthalmic Nurse, who led the team of eight, made up of medical and paramedicals cautioned Ghanaians against using sea water and herbs on the eye. Ms. Benewaa described the eye as “the most delicate part of the human being” which needed special attention by specialists. She cautioned against self medication, saying; “some people became totally blind due to self medication”. She advised parents to be mindful of the materials their children played with to prevent eye injuries.