Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - Fifty Ghanaian ophthalmologists would receive training from the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital to prevent blindness and restore sight to the blind in Ghana.

The 50 ophthalmologists would be trained in sub-special areas such as paediatric ophthalmology; glaucoma and cataract surgery, strabismus, oculoplastics and retinal surgery.

They would also receive training in instrument care, sterilisation, operating room standards, peri-operative care and surgical assistance. Thirty-five clinical engineering professionals would receive two-week intensive training in management and maintenance of ophthalmic equipment and seven anaesthesiologists would also benefit form this training.

Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) said this at the official opening of the eye care service by the aircraft which is at the Kotoka International Airport.

The aircraft, which landed in Accra on Sunday, would work from August 7 to August 25 in collaboration with eye care professionals from Korle-Bu Teaching, Ridge and 37th Military hospitals. This is the second visit to Ghana of the Flying Eye Hospital after 1989.

ORBIS, a DC- 10 aircraft converted into an ophthalmic hospital and innovative teaching facility, is the world's only Flying Eye hospital. Flown by volunteer pilots, the aircraft and its international medical team have conducted treatment and training in more than 70 countries since its inception in 1982.

It has an operating, laser and recovery room as well as audiovisual studio and classroom.

Major Quashigah said it was sad to note that 90 per cent of the estimated blind people in the world lived in the poorest areas of the developing world and 75 per cent of the causes of their blindness were preventable.

In Ghana, an estimated 200,000 people are blind from all causes with cataract blindness accounting for half of the cases.

The major causes of avoidable blindness and visual disability include cataract, trachoma, glaucoma, onchocerciasis, corneal scarring, refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy and sickle cell retinopathy. He called for highly specialised equipment and retraining of staff to offer care to patients, who required special operations as people, who needed such special care always travelled outside the country for treatment.

Major Quashigah said the Government would continue to ensure that the framework set to ensure that eye care service delivery was provided to all and Ghana made free of avoidable blindness was achieved.

Dr Awuah Siaw, Director of Institutional Care Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said the Service for the next five years would focus on cataract, trachoma, onchocerciasis, childhood blindness and refractive errors and low vision.

He commended staff of ORBIS and called for continuous networking to build capacity to give sight to the blind.

Dr Marian Hagan, former ophthalmologist of GHS, urged the Heath Ministry to complement the training offered by ORBIS by upgrading equipment at the health facilities.

She appealed to ORBIS to consider supporting and strengthening the clinical engineering unit of GHS to ensure quality maintenance of the equipment.

Mr Drew Boshell, Director of the Flying Eye Hospital, said ORBIS was committed to increasing the clinical capacity of local ophthalmologists and eye care professionals.

He explained that about 40 medical personnel on board the aircraft would see patients through the hospitals they would be working with. 08 Aug. 06