Ghana

Blindness in Ghana

Ghana is a country in western Africa, with a history that stretches back to the 9th century. It has a colorful, dynamic culture, and many different native ethnic groups with varying languages. Although the country’s government guarantees basic health care to Ghanaian nationals, it has generally struggled to provide consistent services to all citizens. Urban centers usually have more accessible services than rural areas, which sometimes have no access to services at all. An estimated 40% of the country’s population has little to no access to eye care.

As a result, over 200,000 individuals in Ghana are blind. Over half of these cases are due to cataracts, and another fifth due to glaucoma. These conditions are, in many cases, preventable. However, with over a quarter of the population living over ten miles away from the nearest doctor, and limited options for transportation, many Ghanaians will never get their eyes checked.

The Ophthalmologist Society of Ghana has also recently raised concerns about the increasing prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and blindness due to a rise in the number of people with diabetes in the country.