KATH performs surgery on patients with complicated eye problems

Kumasi, April 4, GNA - The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in collaboration with the Moran Eye Centre of the Utah University in the United States of America on Monday started operating on 400 patients with complicated eye problems in Kumasi.

The exercise, which is to cover cases of cornea, cataract, glaucoma, paediatric and squint, would end on April 6. Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, the Chief Executive of KATH, told newsmen in Kumasi that screening exercise started on March 26. He said the collaboration between KATH and the Utah University started eight years ago and that KATH has benefited from charity eye care service, training of its staff abroad and logistic support of both consumables and equipment.

Dr Nsiah-Asare said as part of the exercise, the Moran Eye Centre has made donations of items to KATH that include microscope, ocular lenses, drugs, equipment and seven cornea tissues transplant at the cost of 518 million cedis.

He said the vision of the Eye Department of the hospital was to establish an eye centre this year to as part of the hospital's centre of excellence programme.

Dr Nsiah-Asare said the surgeries are free for patients with National Health Insurance Scheme cards and the hospital's attendance cards and that patients without such facilities pay subsidized fee of 300,000 cedis.

Dr Seth Lartey, Head of the Eye Department of KATH, said this the first time in the history of the hospital that cornea tissues transplant was being done at the hospital.

He appealed to patients with complicated eye problems to take advantage of the exercise and attend the hospital for treatment. Professor Alan Crandal, Head of the eight-member eye specialists' team from the Utah University, expressed the hope that the exercise would continue periodically to help treat patients with complicated eye problems.