Reported by Ngresangma Martha-14/04/2024

Ghana Health Service (GHS) calls on optometrists to help rural communities with eye care, aiming to tackle high eye problem rates. Dr. Hornametor Afake emphasizes financial and distance barriers, urging optometrists to aid in primary eye care, especially for common issues like refractive errors.

At the University of Cape Coast’s World Optometry Day event, Dr. Afake stresses the importance of addressing untreated eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. He appeals to optometrists to join forces with other eye care professionals on awareness days like World Sight Day.

President of the Ghana Optometric Association, Prof. Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi, encourages more Ghanaians to consider optometry as a profession to meet growing eye care demands globally. He also calls for spectacles to be covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), advocating for accessibility to affordable eyewear.

Prof. Boadi-Kusi emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet, recommending increased vegetable consumption and tiger nuts for good eye health. Dr. Enyam K. A. Morney expresses gratitude to Cardiff University for its significant contributions to Ghana’s optometry field.