Kumasi, Sept 10, GNA – Twenty-One hospitals nationwide, have been selected to benefit from a $1.4 million support package to upgrade eye care service delivery.

The assistance comes in the form of the supply of ophthalmic equipment, infrastructure and human resource development.

Standard Chartered Bank and Operation eyesight Universal, a Canadian-based International Development Organisation, are behind the initiative.

Nii Okai Nunoo, the Bank’s Regional Head of Sustainability, Africa, said the project is part of its “Seeing is Believing Initiative”, which seeks to improve the overall eye health of the people.

He made this known when he presented ophthalmic equipment to some of the beneficiary hospitals at a ceremony at the Manhyia District Hospital in Kumasi.

The project beneficiaries includes Asante-Mampong, Ejura, Juaben and Nyinahin Government Hospitals in Ashanti Region, Walewale, Gambaga and Gushegu hospitals in Northern Region and War Memorial and Bongo hospitals in Upper East Region.

The items included slit lamp, sterilizing drum, minor surgery set, visual acuity chart, ophthalmoscope and their spare bulbs, chealte forceps and container, and adjustable trial frame.

Nii Nunoo said the bank would continue to be part of efforts to improve eye care services and create public awareness to prevent curable blindness.

He invited other corporate organisations to be committed to projects that have immediate impact on people’s lives.

Dr Aaron Offei, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Service, who received the items on behalf of the beneficiary facilities, expressed concern about the growing preventable eye diseases due to the lack of access to health facilities and inadequate ophthalmologists.

He spoke of the need to train more ophthalmologists and improve facilities at the eye clinics.