Lions International District 418 has organised free eye screening for close to 300 drivers, drivers’ mates and traders operating at the Tema Station and 37 Lorry Station in Accra.
The screening exercise is in line with one of their global courses (areas), vision, where they seek to prevent blindness especially avoidable blindness amongst the populace.
Lion Isaac Batini, District Vision and Awareness Chairperson, said they collaborated with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and carried out campaigns that created awareness for drivers to check their eyes constantly and take steps to prevent or tackle any conditions.
“We have realised that majority of our communication on the road have to do with vision but it is downplayed a lot. Drivers don’t give importance to their vision and the passengers do same, so there is the need to help by bringing it closer to them.”
Lion Batini expressed satisfaction over the turnout at the two stations, especially the 37 Lorry Station as several drivers and their mates took advantage over the process, adding that the teamwork from the NRSA, Ghana Health Service and leaders of the stations was remarkable.
At the Tema Station, some of the common conditions recorded were refractive errors, cataracts, pterygium, suspicious disc and pinguecula and most of the beneficiaries were traders and passengers rather than the targeted drivers.
Madam Vida Arthur, Opthalmic Nurse, Presbyterian Hospital, Aburi, and Member of the Medical Team for the screening, said they had given medications for some conditions and referred others for surgeries and treatments at certified health institutions.
“Some of the conditions come about because of the environment we find ourselves in. For conditions like pterygium, they usually come because of the environment – the dust and sun that we are exposed to. Sometimes too, it runs through the family and so other family members can get it,” she said.
Madam Arthur said, cataract had been a condition that developed as people aged, adding that before the age of 40, one should do eye review annually but if glaucoma or cataract was seen in any family, members should do eye review twice a year.
At the 37 Lorry Station, Madam Eunice Yeboah, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Ridge Hospital, said: “We identified immature cataract, refractive errors, pterygium and allergies and we treated some of them here whilst some were referred to the nearest facility. Majority of the people we screened were drivers,” Kojo Adomako, a driver, who operates from 37 Lorry Station to Burma Camp, Circle and back to the station, said he struggled to read books most often, adding that the screening had given him a sense of urgency to visit a health facility.
Matthew Wilson, a driver, who also operates from 37 Lorry Station to Amasaman, said: “I have never done eye screening before and that’s why I am here. During the examination of my eyes, I could not read the small letters so they have directed me to go to a hospital.”
Adwoa Kyerewaa, a second-hand clothing trader at the Tema Station, could not point out if she ever had an eye screening, she was given medication but asked to go for a surgery at the Ridge Hospital.
Mr Charles Ntim, National Road Safety Advocate and Communicator, NRSA, Greater Accra Region, said the eye screening was in line with the National Road Safety Authority’s goals of ensuring that drivers, pedestrians and other road users were safe.
The drivers were educated on the need to have good vision before sitting behind the steering wheel.
“All the strength and skills they apply to driving the vehicles are controlled by their eyes and so they are to pay attention to their sights. I want to urged them that they should take advantage of screenings like this. We are not enthused because most of the drivers have abandoned the exercise and are sitting in their vehicles,” he said.
Source: myghanadaily
