Glaucoma cases in Ghana soar – Dr Debrah

Ghana is the country with the second highest cases of glaucoma in the world, according to Dr Oscar Debrah, Director in-charge of Eye Services at the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

Dr Debrah said, many people suffering from glaucoma are unaware that they have the disease and by the time they noticed it, their sight has been destroyed. The doctor was speaking at the inauguration of the Glaucoma Centre of the Koforidua Regional Hospital on Wednesday.

A research conducted in the region indicates that, more than 16 per cent of blindness in the in the eastern region is caused by the disease.

He said it was for this reason that GHS decided to provide all regional, teaching and three district hospitals in each region with the Vision Field Analyzer, for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Sightsavers International, an NGO donated a visual field analyzer and a vehicle valued at GH¢ 74,000 Ghana Cedis to the Regional Directorate of Health Services for monitoring and provision of services.

George Akanlu, speaking on behalf the NGO, said for the next five years, his organisation would spend one million dollars to help in the improvement of eye care for children in the region, and work with District Health Directorates to ensure the training of more service providers in the districts.

The NGO has supported the Eastern Region in the treatment of eye care diseases since 1994.