For 79-year-old Zobil Piganso, worsening eyesight has gradually turned everyday responsibilities into a struggle.
For nearly a year, he has battled vision problems that have made it difficult to care for his animals, particularly when younger members of his household are away at school.
So when news reached him that the Member of Parliament for Nabdam, Dr Mark-Kurt Nawaane, was offering free eye screening, he saw an opportunity to finally seek help.
“I am hoping this will help me regain my sight,” Mr Piganso said.
He is one of hundreds of residents benefiting from the fourth edition of the MP’s free health intervention in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region.
For 52-year-old Yenbila Nagpoka of Sakoti, the concern is persistent pain in her right eye.
For about six months, she says the pain has become particularly noticeable whenever she bends down or sits.
“Anytime I sit or bend down to take something, I often feel the pain. So, when I heard that this year the MP is coming to take care of eyes, I told myself perhaps this pain in my eye will be over,” she said.
At 64, farmer Zongo Paayel is also hoping the exercise will provide answers to the eye problems he has experienced for some time.
Their experiences reflect the focus of this year’s intervention, which has moved beyond the surgical conditions targeted by the MP in previous years to eye health and preventive healthcare.
Dr Nawaane says the decision to change focus follows what he considers significant progress from previous editions of the intervention.
For three consecutive years, his programme provided free surgeries for conditions including hernia and hydrocele.
He estimates that about 900 surgeries were performed through those interventions.
“We have practically eliminated hernia and hydrocells in Nabdam,” he said, clarifying that cases still occur but have reduced considerably.
With fewer residents now approaching him for those conditions, he says the intervention must respond to other pressing health needs.
“This is what we are now targeting. And with the primary healthcare, we want to screen people for diabetes, hypertension, the commonest cause of eye problems in this part of our country,” Dr Nawaane said.
The five-day exercise is being conducted at the Sakoti Health Centre, Nangodi Health Centre, Logre Catholic Health Centre, Gunduok/Woredaa Health Centre and Pelungu Health Centre.
Residents are receiving free eye screening, hypertension and diabetes screening, medical consultations and registration onto the National Health Insurance Scheme.
But the MP says the screening is only the first stage.
Patients identified with eye conditions requiring specialist attention will be documented for follow-up treatment, including surgery.
“We want to get a list of patients and bring specialists, ophthalmologists, to come and operate so that they can have their eyesight back or improve on their vision,” he said.
Dr Nawaane expects the exercise to identify at least 300 patients who could receive specialist eye care when an ophthalmology team returns to the district in November.
He says the team will include specialists from Accra, Marseille and the United States.
The initiative is receiving support from the Ghana Health Service through health facilities in the district, while the Haven of Love Foundation, through Samuel Nana Bekai Djirackor, is providing professional support.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Nabdam|
