The University has inaugurated a new Eye Clinic under the auspices of the Directorate of University Health Services (DUHS) and the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah to position itself for innovative teaching, research, outreach and professional development. He stated that prior to the establishment of the Clinic, the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences relied on two small on-site eye clinics which were mainly used for the purpose of training students.    

Spacious Area for the Eye Clinic

Prof. Ampiah said due to an increase in students’ enrolment; it became evident that there was the need to look for extra space to expand the training facilities for the Department.  He indicated the Department, therefore, collaborated with DUHS to secure spacious area to provide quality healthcare to the University and its surrounding communities. He added, “the ceremony officially marks the collaboration between the Department of Optometry Vision Sciences and DUHS to operate a joint eye care facility, born out of the spirit of mutual partnership to provide an extra training facility for students and also to provide quality eye care services to University Community.”

The Vice-Chancellor said the major causes of blindness such as refractive errors, cataract, glaucoma and corneal diseases were preventable and manageable if detected or reported early.  “I am confident that, this new facility here at the University will considerably increase the University’s contribution in reducing blindness and visual impairment in Ghana and radically improve the quality of eye care services for patients and staff both in the immediate future and in the years to come,” he explained.

Facilities in the Eye Clinic                                                                              

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the University Eye Clinic had a state-of-the-art facility incorporating five fully equipped consulting rooms. He said the facility would offer comprehensive vision assessment, diagnosis and management of eye diseases, refractive error, optical services, as well as other specialised services including optical coherence and tomography (OCT) scans.

Prof. Ampiah urged the doctors and other staff working in the facility to be kind to patients while assisting them to improve their visual status. He also entreated the facility managers to strive to maintain a sense of obligation for the equipment and to endeavour to cultivate maintenance culture. He assured them of University Management’s support in terms of providing the necessary resources to facilitate their work.

The Vice-Chancellor commended Prudential Bank Limited for procuring some of the equipment for the new facility, and other stakeholders for their assistance.

Collaboration between DUHS and CoHAS

The Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences (CoHAS), Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, stated that the occasion was a special one because it marked the official collaboration between DUHS and CoHAS. “This collaboration aims at augmenting health services provided to the University Community and beyond. It also fits into the strategic plan of the Directorate of University Health Services of expanding and diversifying its health care delivery,” he explained.

Prof. Boampong said the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, as part of the World Glaucoma Day, embarked on an outreach programme to provide eye care services to inmates of Ankaful Maximum Security Prisons and the people of Mankesim, and climaxed it with a public lecture. He explained that “The provision of these health care services is in line with our college’s mission to provide medical and allied health education of the highest standards and value in Ghana and elsewhere.” He also thanked the Management of the University, all faculties, administrators, students, guests and other stakeholders for turning up to support and witness this great occasion – the inauguration.       

The Director of DUHS, Dr. Evans Ekanem, was grateful to the University Management and reiterated his outfit’s commitment to work with the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences to provide quality eye care to the University Community and the general public.