Ghana study highlights gaps in child eye health
A new study in Ghana’s Ashanti region highlights progress in access but highlights shortages and uneven services.
Key Highlights:
- Service Access: Basic care is available under the National Health Insurance Scheme, with school screenings and outreach programmes, but access varies across districts.
- Barriers: Districts face shortages of staff, equipment, and medications, as well as transport challenges that hinder outreach to rural communities.
- Support: NGOs provide training and resources, though coverage is inconsistent and sustainability remains uncertain.
As 93 million people across Africa still live in trachoma-endemic areas, Burundi’s success story provides both inspiration and a proven roadmap for the 20 African countries still working toward elimination. This achievement reinforces that universal eye health is not just an aspiration—it is an achievable reality when we commit to leaving no one behind.
Reference: Akpakli, Elizabeth M., Alvin J. Munsamy, and Nishanee Rampersad. “Evaluation of primary eye care services for children in the Ashanti region of Ghana.” African Vision and Eye Health 84.1 (2025): 11. https://doi.org/10.4102/aveh.v84i1.1053
