Health News of Friday, 6 November 2015

Source: GNA

Free eye-screening exercise for Jaman residents

The Jaman Development Group, a voluntary organization for the socio-economic progress of the Jaman North and South Districts, has organized a free eye-screening exercise for more than 200 people from communities in the two areas.

The group, formed about five months ago, consists of indigenes from the two districts who are professionals, such as lawyers, medical doctors and other categories of health workers, administrators, teachers and lecturers.

The members scattered nationwide and abroad use social media to network as their means of communication, to take decisions regarding projects and their implementation for the people in the two districts.

In a post-screening interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday at Dwenem, where the exercise was held, Mr Mark Adjei-Gyamfi, an ophthalmic nurse at the Berekum Holy Family Catholic Hospital, who led the team of health workers, said the exercise was necessitated to enhance quality eye health conditions of the people.

This, he explained, was because some of the residents suffered from eye problems, but lacked the financial resources to seek medical attention.

Some of the cases the team diagnosed were glaucoma, cataract, refractive errors, myopia, hypermetropia, and age-related macular diseases, Mr. Adjei-Gyamfi mentioned, and added that some of the clients were visually-impaired, whilst others were yet to develop eye defects.

He said while lenses were prescribed for some of the beneficiaries to correct certain anomalies pertaining to their eye sights, others were referred to hospital, whilst the rest were given drugs and other requisite medicaments.

He disclosed that the group spent about GH¢ 10,000 on the exercise.

Mr. Andrews Kwaku Bediako, the Coordinator of the group, said their primary objective was to give back to the society, especially the vulnerable, varying services like healthcare and education programmes and projects.

“Our communities have tendered for us cheerfully since infancy. Why should we renege on our sacred mandate to give back in return?’’ Mr. Bediako, who is also an Assistant Director at the Offinso North District Assembly, asked.