An Assessment of Ophthalmic Services in the Ashanti Region, Ghana

Mohammed  Abdul-Kabir; Alvin J Munsamy; Ahmed  Abdul-Sadik

doi:10.4314/just.v41i1.1469

Dr. Mohammed Abdul-Kabir Department of Optometry and Visual Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2178-1566
Dr. Alvin J Munsamy Optometry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4252-1317
Dr. Ahmed Abdul-Sadik Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7072-8342

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v41i1.1469

Keywords: Ophthalmic services, eye health, utilisation, Ashanti region, blindness

Abstract

Purpose: This survey was designed to assess the available ophthalmic service delivery units and the eye health promotion strategy in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Methods: Twenty-four (24) eye care delivery units in 10 districts, randomly selected from the 43 in the Ashanti region, were assessed for this cross-sectional study, using a structured questionnaire adopted from the Questionnaire on Available Human Resources, Infrastructure and Equipment. The structured, pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from the most senior eye cadre in each of the facilities, with respect to the available human resources, infrastructure and service delivery. Thereafter the availability and implementation of eye health promotion tools were determined by interviewing district directors of health services and eye care cadres in the sampled districts.

Results: Of the sampled districts, 40% do not have any ophthalmic facilities operated by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and three (30%) of the sampled districts also do not have any private ophthalmic service delivery units. All sampled eye care facilities were equipped with most of the basic, but essential, diagnostic and refraction equipment, including visual acuity charts, trial lens sets, trial lens frames and ophthalmoscopes. Fewer of the sampled facilities provided specialty services, such as contact lens services (20.8%), low vision services (8.3%), and binocular vision care (25.0%). None of the districts (100%) had a formalised eye health promotion and advocacy strategy.

Conclusion: In the Ashanti region of Ghana, there exists an uneven distribution of ophthalmic facilities; limited specialised ophthalmic services; insufficient eye care cadres; and very limited advanced diagnostic equipment. The ratio of eye care cadres to population lags behind the VISION 2020 target. Of the districts, 60% do not have public-funded eye clinics. There is no evidence of existing eye health promotion strategies at the district level in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Author Biographies

Dr. Mohammed Abdul-Kabir, Department of Optometry and Visual Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Dr Mohammed Abdul-Kabir is a senior lecturer in the Department of Optometry and Visual Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He has many publications in reputable peer review journals and conference proceedings. He has given many national and international presentations and lectures in the areas of Paediatric Eye Care and Binocular Vision. He uses his expertise to serve as a reviewer for reputable local and international peer review journals. He has served as an external examiner and moderator for a number of institutions and has also chaired the Ghana Optometric Association’s Examiners Board for a long period. He is an examiner for Optometry Licensure Examination of Allied Health Professions Council of Ghana.

Dr. Alvin J Munsamy , Optometry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

Dr Alvin J Munsamy is an academic from the College of Health Sciences, Discipline of Optometry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where he presently lectures Ocular Disease and Binocular Vision to optometry students. He also supervises postgraduate Masters and PhD students. He serves as external examiners for UFS, UJ, and UL in teaching and research. He has published scholarly works in local and international journals, where he also serves as a reviewer. He has presented lectures and literary works at national and international conferences. He is presently holding a fellowship with DRILL at UKZN, which supported his PhD work.

Dr. Ahmed Abdul-Sadik , Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Dr Ahmed Abdul-Sadik is an academic from the Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where he presently lectures Ophthalmic Dispensing, Physiological Optics and Primary Eye Care. He also supervises undergraduate students. He has also published scholarly works in local and international journals.