Ghana is in West Africa, a region with a population of over 200 million people. In Ghana, there are currently a little more than 100 optometrists serving a population of over 22 million. In stark contrast, Australia, with a similar sized population, has more than 4 300 registered optometrists and the United States has around 35 000 working optometrists for its 309 million people.

ICEE has been working with government departments and supporting local organisations to establishing appropriately located Vision Centres, providing the communities in need with access to eye examinations and affordable spectacles, serviced by local eye care personnel. Through a range of education activities ICEE is also helping to transform lives by training a new workforce of eye care professionals to offer vision care services.

The first ICEE Vision Centre in Ghana was officially opened in May 2010 in the small town of Ashanti in Kumasi. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, two additional Vision Centres have been opened.

In the West African region ICEE has trained 250 optometrists and three ophthalmologists in community eye health and low vision. The participants came from Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Togo.

Research studies into vision impairment prevalence known as Rapid Assessments of Refractive Errors, were conducted in Ghana, as well as Eritrea, Tanzania, and Uganda. The results produce statistics to quantify the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness, and establish a baseline to aid measuring the impact of the eye care programmes.

The results gathered are also used to help influence in-country policy decisions on the future planning of eye care programmes and services needed in each region.

Funders:

• ICEE
• Ghana health Service
• Ministry of Health Ghana

Partners:

• Kwame Nkurumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
• Ayeduase Community Ashanti