
- 2024-11-25
- Posted by Health
- 2024-11-25
ASANTE AKIM SOUTH PARTNERS WITH ORBIS INTERNATIONAL FOR FREE COMMUNITY EYE SCREENING
In a significant boost to local healthcare, the Asante Akim South Municipal Health Directorate, in collaboration with ORBIS International, has conducted a comprehensive free community eye screening exercise. The initiative aimed to combat avoidable blindness and bring specialized ophthalmic services directly to residents, with a particular focus on the elderly, school children, and vulnerable groups. Operating across several designated centres in the municipality, the medical team provided vital services including visual acuity tests and screenings for cataracts, glaucoma, and refractive errors. Beyond diagnosis, the programme offered professional counselling on eye hygiene and injury prevention. Patients with complex conditions were provided with formal referrals to specialized facilities for advanced surgery and follow-up care. "Poor vision significantly hinders productivity and quality of life," a representative from the Health Directorate noted during the exercise. "By partnering with ORBIS, we are detecting visual impairments early and removing the financial and logistical barriers that often prevent our farmers and students from seeking care." The impact of the outreach was felt personally by many, including Mr. Ebenezer Kwame Mensah, a farmer from Asuboa. "I have struggled to see at night for a long time but couldn't reach a doctor," he shared. "This screening has given me hope." ORBIS officials reaffirmed their commitment to building sustainable eye health systems in Ghana, urging residents to avoid self-medication and embrace regular check-ups. The Directorate has pledged to make these screenings a periodic feature to ensure universal health coverage across the municipality.
