Daboase (W/R), Oct 03, GNA - A six-member team from the Vision Aid Overseas of the United Kingdom on Monday has began a two-week eye screening exercise for people in the Mpohor-Wassa District. More than 2,500 people are expected to benefit from the exercise and those found with eye problems would be treated and provided with spectacles where necessary. The programme is being organised in collaboration with the Mpohor-Wassa East District Assembly, Ministry of Health and the World Vision Ghana (WVG).

Lunching it Mr Edward Tawia Amprofi, the District Chief Executive, praised WV for its contribution to the improvement of education, health and water and sanitation sectors. Ms Elisabeth Sagoe, Area Development Programme Manager of WV, said Mpohor-Wassa East District was selected for the exercise due to the prevalence of river blindness.

To ensure that as many people as possible benefit from the exercise, the team would spend three days each at Ekutuase, Mpohor and Daboase. Ms Sagoe said since 2004, WV had trained 16 community health nurses on the use of health education materials, 105 community-based surveillance volunteers from 35 communities and also de-worming of 6,146 pupils. About 542 school children from 10 communities have undergone ear screening to detect any disability, she said.