Not enough ophthalmologists in healthcare system — Chief Examiner

There are not enough ophthalmologists in Ghana’s healthcare system to meet the needs of patients struck with corneal diseases.

In Ghana presently, there are about 220 ophthalmologists to provide the needed care.

Additionally, there are other gaps such as inadequate diagnostic tools and equipment, and in the various skills required to operate on patients with corneal blindness.

The Chief Examiner at the Faculty of Ophthalmology at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Professor Seth Lartey, said to improve the situation, more resident ophthalmologists were being trained to, among others, bridge the gap.

He was addressing the 33rd annual general meeting (AGM) of the Ophthalmological Society of Ghana (OSG) in Ho.

The theme for this year’s AGM of the society was: “The Fight Against Corneal Blindness in Ghana: The Journey So Far and the Way Forward.” Twelve new ophthalmologists were inducted into the OSG at the event.

Access

Prof. Lartey stated that corneal diseases trailed cataract and glaucoma as a leading cause of blindness.

Despite being avoidable and treatable, 12.7 million people were affected worldwide, while there are 22,000 reported cases of corneal blindness in Ghana, and more than half of the cases were caused using traditional eye medicines.

He indicated that some 12,400 corneal transplants were currently required, yet only five ophthalmic surgeons were available nationwide, and per the projections, the Chief Examiner said patients could wait for close to a decade to access transplant surgery.

“It’s a huge burden that we need to take,” he said, emphasising challenges with the distribution of the surgical professionals.

Backing calls for a prompt passage of the Human Organ and Tissue Donation Bill to facilitate corneal transplants in the country, Prof. Lartey said the unavailability of corneas was a major challenge and appealed to the political leadership to enable tissue transplants in the country.

“Corneas are not available, and it is a huge problem, and we need legislation to make it happen.  We need the legislation passed as soon as possible to harvest tissues.”

While Prof. Lartey spoke of the importance of the bill which would help set up a cornea bank, he also lamented the acceptance rate for tissue donation in the country saying, “only 30 per cent of the populace are willing to donate. ”

Bill critical

The President of the OSG, Dr Dzifa Bella Ofori-Adjei, stressed the need for the government to prioritise the provision of legislation to facilitate corneal transplants in the country.

She said corneal blindness remained a serious challenge to public health, accounting for 11 per cent of blindness, hence the need to enact a law that would facilitate the donation of cornea and also to enable transplant procedures to save thousands of people from treatable blindness.

“No meaningful fight against corneal blindness can succeed without policy support. As a society, we must continue to be vocal advocates for change.

“We urge the government to continue increasing investment in eye health, particularly in the passing of the legislation for tissue (including cornea) and organ donation.

This has been a long time coming and government must act now,” she said.

Broader engagement

Dr Ofori-Adjei further said efforts to address cornea diseases should attract broader stakeholder support, adding that the OSG remained steadfast in its commitments.

“Whether caused by trauma, infections, genetic disorders or conditions such as vitamin A deficiency, it continues to affect thousands of our people, and it is a tragedy that something so preventable and treatable continues to be a major cause of blindness.

“Our mission is clear: to reduce the incidence of corneal blindness, provide effective treatment and restore sight to those affected. To enable us to achieve this, we must focus on three crucial areas: prevention, treatment and advocacy,” she stated.