Sightsavers supports GHS with vehicle
Sightsavers Ghana, a multinational non-governmental organisation, has presented a Ford Ranger valued at $25,000 to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to enhance its operations.
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The vehicle is specifically meant to facilitate the monitoring and evaluation of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Control Programme of the GHS.
The NTD Control Programme, which is being undertaken in all the 10 regions of the country, forms part of the NGO’s mission to eliminate avoidable blindness and ensure that infected persons receive support.
The three main NTDs are onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and trachoma in infected areas.
According to the Senior Programmes Manager of Sightsavers, Mr George Ankanlu, the donation of the vehicle was in line with the organisation’s commitment to supporting the GHS to continue the treatment and surveillance of the three main NTDs.
There are 39 million blind people in the world, he said, adding that more than 90 per cent of visually-impaired persons lived in developing countries.
Sightsavers is a founder member of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which aims at eliminating avoidable blindness by 2020.
Mr Ankanlu said river blindness was a major problem in Ghana, with about 3.1 million at risk.
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He, therefore, advised the GHS to extend education on the disease to other communities.
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The Programmes Manager of NTD at the GHS, Dr Nana Kwadwo Biritwum, who received the ignition keys to the vehicle on behalf of the GHS, commended Sightsavers Ghana for its support and said, “the gesture was a good example of public-private partnership.”
He urged other corporate organisations to come on board and contribute to the welfare of affected persons.