Indian Eye Care Model for West African Countries

The latest technologies in the world eye care for cornea, cataract etc is available in various centres across India. This and the best aspects of welfare model combined with the user-pay-principle could be the best option given the social inequalities anywhere.

Such a model is being implemented with considerable success in India, thanks to the availability of the state-of-the art technologies like the No Stitch Cataract Surgery with the most modern way of removing cataract through the use of phacoemulsification procedure, which makes it possible to extend the services with less time and manpower.

India also has extremely competent ophthalmic surgeons with enviable clinico-academic expertise. Inevitably others are attracted.

Like the Unite for Sight, a US-based NGO which is seeking to introduce the Indian eye-care model in the West African region.

The Arasan Eye Care Hospital in Erode in southern India is playing a nodal role in this effort.

In 2005 when Roatry clubs around the world celebrated their centenary year, they dedicated it to eye care. It was then decided to conduct eye camps in Ghana. The Erode hospital was chosen for the purpose. Its Managing Director Dr.V Panneerselvam led a team that performed 586 cataract surgeries in just 17 days.

Since then the association has grown. In the last three years, the Arasan team has performed performed 2847 free cataract surgeries in all.

In the rural and urban slums of Ghana, the rate of blindness is estimated at 2.2 per cent of the population. Ghana wants to tackle the situation through a five-year strategic plan targeting five main causes of avoidable blindness, viz., cataract, trachoma, onchocerciosis, childhood blindness, refractive errors and low vision. Working along with WHO, the Health Ministry has sought help from non-governmental organisations in countries advanced in healthcare. Ghana has pinned its hopes on an association with India.”