Mr Anthony M. Sumah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency, in collaboration with Bliss Eye Care, a private eye clinic in Wa, has organised free eye screening for school children in Takpo in the constituency.
The initiative, which was the second intervention by the MP in the constituency, was to help prevent the children from suffering any eye defect that would impact negatively on their education.
The MP had earlier collaborated with Bliss Eye Care under its Blissful Sight for Kids project to organise a similar screening for the children in Charekpong.
Speaking to the media after the exercise, Mr Sumah noted that the human eye was a very important organ that needed to be safeguarded and underscored the need for regular eye check-ups by the people.
“Unfortunately there is usually no particular way that the Ghana Education Service assesses the sights of the kids. So sometimes there are challenges.
“There is a kid in the class, who is not able to see what is even written on the board, but he or she cannot complain and the teacher will not also understand and that is going to affect the success of the student that is why we thought it necessary to ensure that the students who are learning there are no impediment”, Mr Sumah explained.
He explained that the outcome of the exercise at Takpo would inform them of the next step in extending the support to other parts of the constituency.
The MP stresses his commitment to supporting any child who would be diagnosed with any eye defect and referred to other health facilities for attention.
He cited his support for a student of the Takpo Senior High School to receive eye treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as a testament to his commitment to ensuring the welfare of the people in the constituency, especially the children.
Mr Sumah indicated that they would also organise a hearing assessment for the school children to see how they could also be supported in that regard.
Dr. Zakarea Al-hassan Balure, an Optometrist and Director of Bliss Eye Care, noted that in all, 345 children had their eyes screened and added that they had identified some children with different eye problems.
He said some of the children were referred to advanced health facilities for attention while others had been given medications on site.
He described the exercise as a success because despite the downpour of rain in the morning the people still turned up and said that was an indication that they needed the eye screening services.
Dr. Balure advised the general public to regularly visit the health facility to have their eyes screened to help prevent any eye condition they might have had from escalating.
He urged the parents to take advantage of free screening exercises for their children and to also go with their children to the screening centres rather than allowing the children to go there all by themselves.
Some parents and guardians were grateful to the MP and Bliss Eye Care for the intervention and said such exercises should continue for the benefit of the vulnerable and less privileged people in society.
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