SOHi offers free eye screening to Obosomoase residents
About 200 people at Obosomoase in the Eastern Region on Monday received free eye screening organised by Symbol of Hope International (SOHi), a non-profit organisation, aimed at enhancing the quality of life of children and families.
The event, which marked the opening of eye screening service for the communities in the Eastern Region, was aimed to provide quality eye care services to children and adults in the community.
The exercise was well-received by the community, with many residents taking advantage of the opportunity to have their eyes checked and receive treatment.
The programme coincided with the foundation’s two-year anniversary celebration and on the side-line was a party with the children in the community, as well as donation of assorted items including clothes, bags, and sandals.
After a comprehensive eye examining, the Director of Medical Affairs of the foundation, Dr Ignatius Safee Boafo, identified a range of eye health issues, including advanced glaucoma, matured cataract, allergic conjunctivitis, presbyopia, inflamed pterygium, diabetic retinopathy, and cornea ulcers.
Dr Safee Boafo, who doubles as the co-founder of SOHi, disclosed that while adults of 40 years and above suffered presbyopia – difficulty in reading small prints, most children suffered allergic conjunctivitis.
Educating the residents on advance glaucoma, which is irreversible and causes permanent damage to the eyes with no symptoms, he advised them to continue using their eye medication and have regular eye examination.
Those with matured cataract were advised to have a cataract removal surgery to prevent total blindness.
The residents with infections or other conditions were given free eye drops to help alleviate their symptoms.
The community members who required reading glasses were provided with free pairs to improve their ability to read and perform their daily tasks.
The CEO and co-founder of the foundation, Mrs Edwina Judith Safee-Boafo, underscored the foundation’s commitment to providing essential healthcare services to underserved communities.
By offering free eye care services, she stated that the foundation did not only help to promote healthy vision but also improved the overall well-being of the community.
She added that plans had been made to monitor and follow-up in order to ensure the effectiveness of the exercise.
She then commended the team and the Assembly Member of the community, Mr David Yeboah, for their dedication and support in making the programme a success.
The Mankrando Kronti of Obosomoase, Nana Donkor Menianor, commended SOHi for the kind gesture saying that it granted the community the opportunity to access quality eye care service, advising the community to frequently have their eyes checked to ensure early detection in order to avoid potential infections developing into serious cases warning that “once your eye is damaged, there is no replacement anywhere.”
A-17 year old, Jeffrey Asante, couldn’t hide his excitement in having his eyes screened for the first time.
Expressing gratitude to SOHi, Mrs Mercy Appiah said the reading glasses that was given to her would help her in reading effortlessly, emphasising that she would no longer have to strain her eyes to read
FROM CYNTHIA ASAMPANA, EASTERN REGION
