News
800 school children in Wa benefit from free eye screening by Bliss Eye Care
800 school children at Charia community in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region have benefitted from a free eye screening programme by Bliss eye care, a private eye clinic in Wa.
The screening formed part of the implementation of the “Blissful Sight for Kids” project being funded by Ghana Vision, a Non-profit Organization based in Switzerland, aimed at assisting school kids with visual problems to enable them to pursue their education without problems.
Dr Zakarea Al-hassan Balure, an Optometrist and Manager of Bliss Eye Care told the Spectator that conditions detected during the screening included conjunctivitis, allergies, refractive errors glaucoma, among others. Dr Balure said kids who required reading glasses were provided at no cost as part of efforts by the benefactor to ensure that eye problems did not hamper quality teaching and learning or denied children their right to education.
He explained that one of the most important human organs that needed proper care was the eye and appealed to the public to pay critical attention to their eyes by undergoing frequent screening and seeking early treatment to prevent damage to the eyes.
“This is a free screening exercise but we realize that most of the parents brought their children here and left without waiting to hear what conditions their children suffered from and a discussion on how to get them treated”, he noted with concern.
The President of the Ghana Vision Mr. Martin Roost believed that every little thing done to put smiles on the faces of children, especially for those in less privileged areas, would go a long way to impact their lives positively.
He used the platform to encourage the public to go for check the functionality of their eyes at least every three months to help detect any problems early for treatment.
Some parents expressed gratitude to Bliss Eye Care for the intervention and said bringing the free screening to their doorstep was commendable and proof that Bliss Eye Care was committed to the welfare of children in the region.
FROM RAFIA ABDUL RAZAK, WA.
News
‘Nipahiamoa’ residents cry for basic social amenities
Residents of a farming community in the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region are living under conditions that directly reflect or connote the name of the township, Nipahiamoa.
The name of the town, Nipahiamoa, when translated directly means ‘humans need help.’
Despite the contribution in ensuring there is sufficient food in not only the region but the country at large, Nipahiamoa lacks basic social amenities to make life enjoyable after their farming activities.
water for the people of Nipahiamoa
According to some of the members of the community that The Spectator spoke to during a visit to the area, they lacked basic needs such as potable water, health post, among others.
This, they claimed, was impacting negatively on their general wellbeing and appealed to authorities to come to their aid.
The Unit Committee chairman of Nipahiamoa, Mr James Najohnbo, told this paper on Thursday that successive governments have neglected the town over the years.
“It is the reason we are where we are today in this era of development. Some people poke fun that our condition is a reflection of the name of the town but I don’t believe that. We have been neglected by governments over the years. There are no government initiatives here,” he explained.
The community, inhabited by over one thousand people, mostly settlers, is located on the Techiman-Kintampo stretch of the Trans-ECOWAS highway which connect from Tema to Mali.
Mr Najohnbo, who conducted this reporter around, revealed that a borehole constructed for the community by the former Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Major Derrick Oduro, had since broke down, compelling the people to turn to the Bono manso waterfalls which they trek several kilometres for their source of water.
Mr Najohnbo stated that their children are not left out in this challenges as they had to trek to either Manso or Dweneho, about two kilometres to access healthcare and education.
He added that a wooden structure constructed in 1994 currently serves as the only primary school for the community.
“Our kids had to trek several kilometres to Manso to attend school which come at cost to most parents.”
A 30-year old hairdresser, Rebecca Dibenpong, also appealed to authorities to come up with income generating activities to boost economic lives of the people.
She alleged that politicians often claimed they don’t have enough numbers to attract development, hence such initiatives were directed to bigger communities.
Like the name suggest, Nipahiamoa, the community needs urgent attention to make life meaningful for the people who contribute to the national economy by way of their farming activities.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Nipahiamoa
News
Maternal mortality rate increases in Ashanti Region
The Ghana Health Service has revealed a staggering statistic of 1,000 women losing their lives during childbirth in the Ashanti Region between 2020 and 2024.
This alarming number, according to the Regional Health Director, Dr Frank Adomanko Boateng, highlights the persistent challenge of maternal mortality in Ghana, despite efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
Dr Adomanko Boateng, therefore emphasized on an urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.
Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum, he indicated that “Ghana is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.”
Dr Boateng stressed that time was of the essence, saying, “The clock is ticking, and we must double our efforts.”
He called for intensified measures over the next six years to bridge the gap and prevent further loss of lives.
Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio, he noted, has been declining from 760 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.
However, “the country still faces significant challenges in reducing maternal mortality, particularly in regions like Ashanti.”
To address the issue, he said, Ghana has been working to improve maternal healthcare through various initiatives, including the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
The country aims to reduce maternal mortality by strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to quality care, and enhancing community engagement
From Kingsley E. Hope,
Kumasi
