Over 200 people receive free eye surgery in Accra

More than 200 people suffering from cataract have undergone successful surgery at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

The beneficiaries comprised the aged, young people and children who were recommended for surgery following the free screening of about 2,000 people who had responded to an invitation to a free cataract eye camp organised by DirectAid Society, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The Kuwait-based NGO collaborated with the ministries of Health and Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Saudi Arabia-based Albasar International Foundation, which flew in a team of 19 doctors and technicians for the eye camp, for the exercise.

The cost of the exercise was estimated at $30,000.

All those who were screened and diagnosed with defects, along with those who underwent surgery, were provided with free medication, and in some cases reading glasses.

Readiness

The organisers expressed their readiness to set up another eye camp in the country next year, during which they expect to provide free cataract surgery for about 500 people.

“We have done this, together with our partners, for the love of humanity.

That is the objective and motivation of DirectAid Ghana.

We want to assist the needy and those who cannot afford the cost of such operations to live more meaningfully,” Mr Adam Suleiman, the Secretary to the Country Director of DirectAid Ghana, said.

The Assistant Manager of Albasar International Foundation, Mr Rizwan Ahmed Baloch, commended the government of Ghana and the Ministry of Health for their support and called for more of such collaboration.

Appreciation

The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the organisers for the programme.

A son of one of the beneficiaries, Bernard Okine from Kaneshie, who had accompanied his octogenarian father for the surgery, appealed to the government to channel resources into supporting such initiatives.

A grandson of another beneficiary, Said Mubarak Maigida, also said:

“There are not enough words to thank the organisers.

We paid nothing but they took us to the theatre, did the surgery and gave us free medication.

God bless them.”