Social Impact

NEED SITUATION AND SERVICE PROJECT.

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide with 94 million blind or visually impaired. Developing countries like Ghana has the largest burden with 90% living in these parts of the world. Cataract blindness can only be cured with a surgical procedure only performed by the Ophthalmologist (Eye Doctor/ Specialist) and there are very few of these kind of high caliber doctors in Ghana, even so, over 90% of Ophthalmologists work in the urban areas leaving the rural communities to their faith.¹ and this is where we come in and try to bridge the gap.

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye.  If not treated, cataracts can lead to profound blindness. Most cataracts are age related.  Other factors such as ultraviolet light exposure, malnutrition, trauma, diabetes, and genetics can also be a cause. Nearly everyone who lives long enough will develop cataracts. However, the factors noted above may cause someone to develop cataracts earlier in life. Congenital cataracts (cataracts at birth), early onset cataracts, and traumatic cataracts are more common in the developing world such as Ghana and even more so in poor and rural communities where we find ourselves.

In rural Africa, life expectancy for the blind is ⅓ that for age-matched peers.² Blindness and household poverty are strongly linked (15 year longitudinal study in West Africa).³ Cataract blindness has been linked to decreased quality of life, reduced economic productivity, increased dependence on caregivers, and severe poverty.^4,5 Blindness is associated with significant levels of depression, loss of independence, and self-esteem and severe disruption of family relationships (50% spousal separation within 1.6 years – 5 times higher than the general population).⁶

Patients who undergo sight-restoring cataract surgery enjoy improved quality of life, increased economic productivity, decreased dependence on caregivers, and alleviation of severe poverty.  These gains are sustained in the long term.⁵ On average, individuals who regained vision through surgery generated 1,500% of the cost of surgery in increased economic productivity during the first year following surgery. Studies shows that, 85% of males and 58% of females who had lost their jobs due to blindness regained those jobs following cataract surgery.⁷ Many who did not regain their jobs, resumed domestic responsibilities so that family members could return to their employment and children are freed to go back to school instead of leading them to the streets to beg and so forth.

Three years after sight-restoring cataract surgery in a rural Ghanaian community, 94% of patients reported an increased ability to provide income for themselves and their families. One hundred percent of those who required a caregiver prior to surgery no longer required a caregiver after surgery. On average, hours spent engaging in paid work increased by 121%, significantly increasing self-reliance.⁸ The World Bank has called cataract surgery one of the most cost-effective public health interventions available.⁷

CATCHMENT AREA

Branches and outreach sites.

We are spread across the Northern part of Ghana consisting of six regions namely, Northern region, Oti region, Savannah region, Northeast region, Upper east and Upper west regions, which has the highest burden of blindness and poverty rates in the country served by the least number of eyecare professionals. Northern Ghana occupies about half the land area of the country with a population of approximately 8 million people served by only four Ophthalmologists.

Tamale is our main station where we offer both general medical care and eye care services including subsidized cataract surgeries. Wa is the second, Katiejeli is our third and Damongo is the fourth branch. Duori, Kumdi, Kabonwuli, Kpandai and Dambai are our outreach stations. We offer eye care services, subsidized cataract surgeries and other eye surgeries, spectacles and medication at all our four branches and outreach sites.

COMMON TYPES OF EYE DISEASES ENCOUNTERED.

Dry eye syndrome is the commonest eye condition we see followed by Allergic Conjunctivitis, refractive errors, cataract, pterygium, glaucoma, ocular trauma, corneal ulcers/ scars, orbital tumors among others.

4. STAFF – SKILLED AND OTHER MANPOWER

We have a staff strength of over 50 people across our four branches made up of a skilled and unskilled workforce and volunteers. These include one ophthalmologist, three medical doctors (medical officers), five medical assistants, three nurse managers, one optometrist, three ophthalmic/ eye nurses, 15 general and community health nurses, three pharmacy technicians, three laboratory scientists, one general manager, one accountant, one auditor, four security personnel, seven cleaners and several volunteers.

HOUSING NEED, FURNISHINGS & NUMBER OF OUTREACH LOCATIONS

We have our own furnished housing and space where we operate in Tamale and Katiejeli. We operate in a rented house and space in Wa and Damongo. We operate in the government health center in Duori and in the Roman Catholic Church premises in Kumdi, Kabonwuli, Kpandai and Dambai. We offer heavily subsidized and, in most cases, free eye care services, cataract surgeries, spectacles and medication at all our four branches and outreach sites.  So, we have five main stations with several outreach points where we rent space and furniture for our operations as and when we visit.

EQUIPMENT & MEDICAL SUPPLIES AVAILABLE & WHAT IS LACKING

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: FOR SKILLED STAFF AND THOSE WITH RESTORED SIGHT.

We have offered employment to over 50 young people across our facilities. These include skilled staff such as medical doctors, nurses, medical assistants, laboratory scientists and so forth.

On average we serve over 40 patients daily and 250 patients weekly. We serve patients of all ages and genders.

Some patients travel distances of up to 300 kilometers (180 miles) from across the length and breadth of the country to access eye care in our facilities. Clients of varying educational status attend our clinics, though those with less education and no education are the majority. People of all social status are served in our clinics, though the majority are those with low social status. Approximately 10% of our clients can pay for services and surgeries of an average amount of GHC600.00 (six hundred Ghana cedis) of $50 (fifty US Dollars) equivalent. We have restored sight to over 5,000 people over our five years of operation, many of whom have returned to their previous employment, others have gained new employment and yet others are self-employed and their caretakers who were mainly children have enrolled into schools and those who had dropped out have re-enrolled into schools. Once a blind person’s sight is regained the burden of taking care of them by family members is relieved as they can now work and take care of themselves and contribute more meaningfully to community development and wellbeing.

FREE SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT AFFORD.

• Many need the service but are unable to afford and we deliver quality services at discounted rates and in majority of cases free of charge to their doorstep.
• Patients waiting for surgeries are many and our limited resources cannot cater for all of them.