Kete-Krachi, Aug. 10, GNA - More than 200 cataract patients in Krachi West District are undergoing surgery to correct their eye defects free of charge.

They were among 600 people screened under a medical outreach programme undertaken by Eye Unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi and sponsored by Krachi District Assembly.

Other collaborating agencies are Krachi West Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, Krachi West District Hospital and Sight Savers International Ghana.

Mr Douglas Koranteng, Krachi West District Chief Executive told Ghana News Agency that the initiative sought to consolidate government's resolve to make specialist health care services available to rural dwellers.

He said the assembly had made arrangements for patients to be conveyed from their villages to the District Hospital at its expense in addition to paying for the cost of drugs not covered under the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme.

Mr Koranteng urged parents and teachers to avoid hitting children on the head as that could injure their eyes.

Dr Seth Lartey, Head of Eye Unit at KATH and Leader of a 10-member Ophthalmologists Team said their presence at Kete-Krachi was a social responsibility.

He said the cost of such surgery was 150 Ghana cedis but this had been subsidized to 90 Ghana cedis.

Dr Lartey said allergies, growth on cornea and glaucoma were also being handled under the programme and half of the blind population could have their sights restored through simple and cost-effective operations. He advised the public to report eye-related problems to the hospital on time rather than resort to concoctions explaining that there was a correlation between cataract and ageing.

Dr Lartey said Himalayans Cataract Society in the United States of America donated the surgery materials. Mr Francis Odenke, a beneficiary who spoke to Ghana News Agency expressed appreciation to the organizers and stakeholders for restoring their sight and appealed to the public to patronize the NHIS, because it was poverty-friendly. 10 Aug. 08