Hospital restores vision for 138 people

Pramso (Ash), Oct 15, GNA - A total of 138 people who had impaired vision due to cataract have had their vision restored through free surgery at the Saint Michael's Catholic Hospital at Pramso in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District.

The hospital and the Canadian Surgical Eye Expedition (CANSEE) conducted the five-day joint surgical operation session. The five-member team consisting of two eye specialists, two nurses and one administrator, which performed the operations, have already restored vision to about 1,500 patients at the same hospital since a memorandum for a joint collaboration in that respect was reached between the two partners in 1996.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Pramso, Ms. Linda Tranchemon Tagne, Founder and leader of the team, said the rising incidence of the disease in the hospital's catchments area and even countrywide was worrying and that called for the establishment of an ultra-modern 70,000-dollar eye clinic at the hospital.

She said the project, to be inaugurated next year to coincide with the hospital's golden jubilee, would be co-funded by the two parties and is expected to provide early detection and treatment of cataracts which can lead to a total loss of sight when not treated early. Dr. Ben Ababio Danso, an eye specialist at the hospital, said 1,500 people visit the eye department monthly, so the establishment of the eye-centre was a step in the right direction. 16 Oct 07