Cape Coast now has a new beacon of hope for vision health, as the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) officially opened a 33-bed Eye Care and Surgical Training Centre of Excellence.

The $4 million facility, the largest of its kind in the Central Region, aims to tackle preventable blindness and bring quality eye care closer to residents of the Central, Western, and Western North Regions.

Spanning 25,000 square feet over four storeys, the centre will boost surgical capacity, train ophthalmologists, and provide timely diagnosis and treatment for various eye conditions.

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Funded by the Himalayan Cataract Project through its Cure Blindness initiative and USAID, it includes specialised rooms for diagnostics, treatment, consultations, and inpatient wards, with space reserved for future expansion.

Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, praised the sponsors and underscored the centre’s role in reaching remote communities.

She highlighted cataracts as a leading cause of preventable blindness and urged expanded, affordable eye care and surgeon training, saying, “Aligned with the government’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) of ensuring financial barriers did not block essential eye care services to all.”

According to a cititnewsroom.com report on March 4, 2026, Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, commended the Himalayan Cataract Project for screening over 90,000 Ghanaians and performing more than 9,000 surgeries.

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“As a beneficiary institution, we are deeply grateful for this collaboration…We are committed to fostering a robust culture of maintenance to fully serve our purpose,” CCTH CEO Dr Eric Kofi Ngyedu who was also present at the opening of the facility said.

The facility promises not just treatment, but restores hope for many who require eye care, especially in underserved and rural communities.

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