Parents and guardians have been advised to immediately send their children who complain of eye issues to the hospital to rule out the possibility of glaucoma.
“Glaucoma is a silent thief of sight and we advise that all people 21 years and above go for regular check up on the eye for early detection and prevention of advanced glaucoma along with other complications,” the head of the Eye Care Unit of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Hornametor Afake, has said.
Dr Afake gave the advice on Thursday at the launch of the 2025 World Glaucoma Week organised by the Glaucoma Patients Association of Ghana (GpAG) in partnership with the Ministry of Health in Accra.
This year’s theme, “United for Glaucoma-Free World,” seeks to bring together communities to fight against glaucoma blindness.
Commemorated annually in March, World Glaucoma Week is a global initiative by the World Glaucoma Association and World Glaucoma Patients Association to create awareness and alert everyone to have regular eye and optic nerve checks to detect the condition early and prevent visual loss.
Glaucoma is a disease that destroys the nerve that connects the eyeball to the brain.
There are no known symptoms or cure for Glaucoma but experts say it could be hereditary, leading to irreversible vision loss if not detected and managed early.
Statistics indicate that Ghana has the highest prevalence rate of glaucoma in Africa.
About 700,000 Ghanaians are living with glaucoma, with 60,000 being blind from the condition, and over 360,000 people do not know they have it.
Dr Afake called for more research into the condition in Ghana to understand the genetics of the condition, reduce prevalence and enhance treatment outcomes.
“As more research continues to be done, there is the likelihood that these figures will surge and even be greater because, by 2040, over 111 million people will be affected by glaucoma worldwide.”
He indicated that the GHS had extended its wellness clinic concept to include awareness creation on glaucoma, as all regional directors have also been directed to undertake screenings in all facilities.
He stressed the need for more eye care professionals to be trained and accept postings to underserved communities to provide the needed services and reduce glaucoma prevalence in Ghana.
In a remark, Mr Harrison K. Abutiate, the president of GpAG, called for the removal of taxes on glaucoma medications, equipment, and consumables to enable patients in their advanced stages to undergo treatment processes.
He also advised patients to use their medications as prescribed for the required outcomes.
The Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, Dr Hafiz Adam Taher, representing the Minister, said the government was committed to promoting eye health in the country.
He outlined measures, including the scaling up of public education campaigns on glaucoma, screenings, expanding eye health at the primary level, and adding glaucoma surgery to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) benefit package, to address the public health threat.
Dr Taher said the government had also strengthened partnerships with professional bodies, civil society organisations, and the private sector to enhance the availability and affordability of glaucoma treatment.
He further encouraged the public to go for regular eye checks, particularly for individuals above 40 years, persons with a family history of glaucoma, and persons with hypertension and diabetes, as a means of being proactive to detect and manage the condition early.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
The post Check for early detection, prevention of advanced Glaucoma – Dr Afake appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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