Kumasi, March 14, GNA - The Kumasi Royal Lions Club and its Accra Premier counterpart have jointly sponsored free eye screening for drivers at the Konongo lorry terminal as part of efforts at helping to bring down road traffic accidents. Dr Seth Lartey and Dr Amos Aikins of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) eye Clinic, assisted by a group of ophthalmologist nurses, undertook the exercise.

About 500 drivers and members of the general public had their eyesight tested and were provided with free spectacles and drugs while 60 of them whose cases required further clinical attention were referred to the KATH.

Miss Esther Agyarkwa, a Nursing Officer, before the start of the exercise, drew the attention of the people to the need to report all eye problems including injuries through accidents at the home to the hospitals for treatment.

She advised against the practice where some people went out of their way to buy eye drops and ointments as well as eyeglasses either for sight or reading without prescription from qualified doctors. Such practice, she said, was not just unhealthy but could be disastrous.

Miss Michaela Kusi President of the Kumasi Royal Lions Club, observed that road accidents at times occurred due mainly to the poor eyesight of some drivers.

She said but as those drivers always appeared too busy and seemed to have no time to seek medical treatment to correct their sight, they with support from Lions Club International based in Chicago, America, had decided to from time to time sponsor free eye treatment for them. Nana Kofi Agyeman, Konongo branch chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), said the initiative was most significant and laudable.

The spectacles and drugs freely distributed were worth about 3,000 US dollars.