german
frenchThe Fight against Blindness in the Volta Region
Almost 20,000 people out of the 1.6 million population of the Volta Region, one of Ghana's ten provinces, are in need of cataract surgery, a recent field study suggested. 3,700 people have gone blind from cataract, while there are 26,000 cases of glaucoma. More than two-thirds of those affected could be saved using an operation that costs about 30 euros.
The Volta region is one of Ghana's most disadvantaged. The are no industrial facilities nor resources. People live by fishing and agriculture. Poverty is wide-spread and so are blindness-causing diseases. Obviously most people cannot afford the money for eye surgery or even the trip to an eye clinic.
The Marquart Hospital
The eye clinic at Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital in Kpando was established by American Dr James Guzek in 1998. The aa/D has contributed financial aid as well as material aid to the setting up of the eye clinic and especially the attached optician's workshop. At the moment, Ghanaian ophthalmologist Dr Asante Opoku is in charge of the clinic. The dramatically increased demand for urgently needed eye operations is calling for some radical changes to be made to the activities of the hospital. Dr Opoku and his team are planning to create mobile teams to visit remote village so they can increase their offer of eye surgery that can prevent blindness.
We of aa/D want to join supporting this action by supplying mobile examination and operating appliances and medication as well as lenses for implantation. German eye doctors are prepared to work in this programme free of charge for short periods.
What is needed?
- Medication and lenses for implantation, 3.000 euros per year
- Mobile tools for examination and surgery, 5.000 euros (one-off)
Therefore, we kindly ask you for your assistance. Please note on your donations the