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Health News Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Source: Graphic.com.gh
2019-03-13
Dr. Haryana Yakubu Zato, optometrist, LeKMA Hospital performing screening on a resident.
Glaucoma, also known as the silent thief of sight, is a disease that makes eyes blind, with no warning sign. The signs are only visible at the last stage of the disease. It is also the second cause of blindness after cataracts.
Untreated glaucoma causes blindness because of the irreversible damage that it causes.
Dr. Michael Gyasi, President of the Ophthalmological Society of Ghana (GSO), said, "Glaucoma is a disease that shows no symptoms in its infancy and when symptoms begin to appear, that's when can not do anything about it. That's why people need regular eye screening to ensure that even in case of infection, they could be detected at an early stage and treated. "
He added that Ghana was one of the most glaucoma-affected countries in the world and more than 700,000 Ghanaians were living with the disease.
He said this Monday (March 11) in Accra, when the OSG organized a free eye screening at the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly Hospital (LeKMA) as part of the activities marking the celebration. of Glaucoma Week.
This year's Global Glaucoma Week is scheduled for March 11-16, and OSG is collaborating with the Ghana Glaucoma Association (GAG) and the Ministry of Health to celebrate the week with free HIV / AIDS screening. glaucoma and free public education to highlight the importance of early detection and treatment of the disease.
Blindness
Dr. Gyasi further revealed that the disease accounted for more than 19% of all cases of blindness in the country, indicating that it is the most important cause of permanent blindness in Ghana.
He explained that the disease was caused by lesions of the nerves connecting the brain to the eye, specifying that these lesions were caused by pressure on the nerve, which had resulted in a gradual disappearance of human vision.
According to him, the disease was hereditary and could also be pbaded from a parent to his offspring, hence the need for people to be examined regularly.
Glaucoma Week
Dr. Aseye Aidam, an ophthalmologist at LeKMA Hospital, announced the organization of a free eye screening at LeKMA hospital for about 300 people, adding that on Thursday, March 14, the screening would take place at the medical reception center in Burma camp. Also at Korle Bu University Hospital with the culmination point at the Accra Regional Hospital on March 15th.
Creation of consciousness
Dr. Dziffa Ofori-Adjei, GSO Secretary, said more attention needs to be paid to the disease to help eradicate it.
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