The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has renewed its call for equitable access to quality eye care for all citizens as it marked this year’s World Sight Day in Accra. The event, held at the Service’s headquarters, was celebrated under the theme: “Increasing Access to Quality Eye Care in Ghana.”
In a welcome address, Dr. Kennedy Brightson, Director of the Family Health Division, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to ensuring that no Ghanaian loses their sight to preventable causes. He urged the public to seek early treatment from qualified professionals, stressing that good vision is essential to both individual wellbeing and national development.
Representing the Minister of Health, Dr. Hafiz Adam Tahir reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening eye care within the Universal Health Coverage framework. He called for sustained advocacy, increased financing, and stronger partnerships to make quality eye care accessible to every Ghanaian.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Acting Director-General, Dr. Lawrence Ofori-Boadu, Director of the Institutional Care Division, highlighted progress made in expanding cataract surgeries, integrating eye care into primary healthcare, and strengthening data systems. He noted that about 70 percent of blindness cases in Ghana are preventable, and urged for continued collaboration and the inclusion of eye health in national budgets.
In a presentation on the state of eye care in Ghana, Dr. Hornametor Afake, Head of the Eye Care Unit, revealed that approximately 250,000 Ghanaians are blind, with cataracts accounting for more than half of these cases. He acknowledged improvements in access to services but pointed to persistent challenges in workforce distribution. Outreach programmes, including free cataract surgeries at Tema General Hospital, are helping to restore sight and bridge service gaps.
Solidarity messages from the Ophthalmological Society of Ghana, the Ophthalmic Nurses Association, and development partners underscored the need for equitable resource distribution, strategic deployment of eye care professionals, and affordable access to spectacles and essential services.
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