Accra: Mr Abudi Issahaku, the Wa Municipal School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator, has expressed grave concern about the ignorance of many school children about their eye problems, which he said has a direct impact on their academic performance. He attributed the problem to the failure of parents and guardians to have regular eye screening for their children.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Issahaku explained that the situation is dire because many pupils with eye problems are unaware of their condition. This is exacerbated by the fact that their parents or caregivers are also unaware, as they do not take their children for regular screening exercises. He raised the concern during an interview in Jonga in the Wa Municipality, where an eye screening exercise was organised by Bliss Eye Care, a private eye clinic in Wa, for school children in the Jonga Circuit.
The exercise was part of the Blissful Sight for Kids (BS4Ks) project, an initiative by Bliss Eye Care in partnership with Ghana Vision, a Swiss-based charity organisation. A total of 667 children within the circuit benefited from the free eye screening. Out of these, 79 had normal eyes, 573 had pathological issues and were given medication, twelve had refractive errors and were provided with eyeglasses, while three were diagnosed with cataracts and glaucoma.
The intervention by Bliss Eye Care, ongoing since 2015, has impacted the educational lives of thousands of school children and, in some cases, teachers in the Upper West Region and beyond. This recognises the importance of good eyesight for quality education, which not only enhances education in Ghana but also contributes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education and health.
For instance, target 4.1 of the SDGs requires that ‘By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.’ Additionally, target 3.8 aims to ‘Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all,’ by 2030.
Mr Issahaku indicated that interventions such as the BS4Ks project are necessary to prevent avoidable eyesight loss for school children through early detection and treatment of eye conditions. He encouraged parents and guardians to take responsibility for their wards’ health, including regular health and eye screenings, which are necessary for their holistic growth.
Dr. Zakarea Al-hassan Balure, the Manager of Bliss Eye Care, expressed satisfaction that his intervention was impacting lives, especially in rural communities. He acknowledged that financial constraints prevent some parents and guardians from having regular eye screenings for their wards, which informed his decision to offer free eye screenings to all children in the region with the support of Ghana Vision.