Facilitate passage of legislation to streamline organ, tissue donations - Dr Fordjour to stakeholders

A Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Dr Gladys Fordjour, has called on policymakers and healthcare providers to facilitate the passage of legislation to streamline organ and tissue donations to enhance healthcare delivery in the country. 

She stressed the need to prioritise local solutions, increase investment in ophthalmology and also foster partnerships to prevent corneal eye diseases and provide essential eye care.

Speaking on the topic, “Organ donation legislation status in Ghana” at a 2024 Korea (KOFIH) Global Alumni Ghana Chapter General Assembly in Accra, Dr Fordjour, who is an alumna of the Dr LEE Jong-wook Fellowship Programme, said corneal disease had become a serious issue, hence the need to address the problem.

The consultant said that recent statistics had shown that corneal blindness accounted for approximately 11.2 per cent of blindness cases in the country, with over 80,000 individuals estimated to be affected.

She said while blindness, in general, affected 0.74 per cent of the population, a large proportion of those cases were caused by corneal diseases.

In attendance were alumni of Dr Lee Jong-wook fellows, representatives from the Korean Embassy, Ministry of Health, and the Ghana Health Service, who exchanged ideas, fostered collaborations and strengthened bonds as they worked towards advancing healthcare initiatives in the country.

It was also to honour Dr LEE Jong-wook’s vision of equitable and accessible health care, which guides the partnership between Ghana and Korea. 

Challenges

Dr Fordjour said in 2012, a corneal working group was formed to push for legislation and advance research to address the problem.

She, however, said efforts to address the issue had faced several challenges, including the lack of specialised equipment, limited resources and delays in policy implementation.

Dr Fordjour said reliance on imported corneal tissues and the absence of critical diagnostic tools such as specular microscopes have delayed progress, saying “We need specialised equipment, such as specular microscopes, to assess the health of corneal cells and ensure successful transplant outcomes”.

Rationale

The President of the KOFIH Global Alumni, Ghana Chapter, Dr Ralph Armah, said the assembly was to review past activities and plan future strategies.

He said they had organised blood donation campaigns where young people in schools and communities were encouraged to donate blood.

“This year, the chapter has provided medical services in Damang West, a peri-urban area lacking sufficient health care,” Dr Armah said.

He added that the chapter worked in the Oti and Volta regions to repair medical equipment and train staff to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Dr Armah further said that the chapter planned to expand its advocacy efforts, particularly for childhood cancer policies and healthcare equity, while strengthening advocacy at higher levels of decision-making. 

Impact

The Country Director, KOFIH Ghana, Bomin Yang, said that since the alumni group was established in 2012, members have contributed to universal health coverage in the country, describing their role as “a bridge between our two nations”.

“Through your expertise and dedication, you contribute not only to improving lives but also fostering innovation and excellence in health care,” he said.

The Country Director reiterated KOFIH’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s healthcare systems, adding that “we remain proud to play a role in strengthening this vital partnership”.

For his part, the Director of External Health Cooperation at the Technical Coordinating Department at the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr Hafez Adam Taher, thanked the KOFIH fellowship programme for training 146 Ghanaian healthcare professionals from 2007.

He lauded the alumni for their collective efforts in improving healthcare systems, saying “Your work has led to visible improvements and better outcomes in our communities”.