For 79-year-old Zobil Piganso, worsening eyesight has gradually turned everyday responsibilities into a struggle.
For nearly a year, his vision problems have made it difficult to care for his animals, particularly when younger members of his household are away at school.
So when he heard that the Member of Parliament for Nabdam, Dr. Mark-Kurt Nawaane, was offering free eye screening in the district, he saw an opportunity to finally seek help.
“I am hoping this will help me regain my sight,” Mr. Piganso said.
He is among hundreds of residents participating in the fourth edition of Dr. Nawaane’s free health intervention in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region.
This year, the programme has shifted its attention to eye care and preventive health screening after three previous editions focused largely on providing free surgeries for conditions including hernia and hydrocele.
Dr. Nawaane estimates that about 900 surgeries were performed during the previous interventions.
“We have practically eliminated hernia and hydrocele in Nabdam,” he said, explaining that cases still occur but have reduced considerably.
With fewer residents approaching him for support for those conditions, the MP said the programme is turning its attention to other health concerns affecting residents.
“This is what we are now targeting. And with the primary healthcare, we want to screen people for diabetes, hypertension, the commonest cause of eye problems in this part of our country,” Dr. Nawaane said.
The five-day exercise is being conducted at health facilities across the district, including Sakoti Health Centre, Nangodi Health Centre, Logre Catholic Health Centre, Gunduok/Woredaa Health Centre and Pelungu Health Centre.
Residents are receiving free eye screening, hypertension and diabetes screening, medical consultations and registration onto the National Health Insurance Scheme.
For 52-year-old Yenbila Nagpoka of Sakoti, the exercise offers hope of finding relief from persistent pain in her right eye.
She said she has experienced the problem for about six months, with the pain becoming particularly noticeable when she bends down.
“Anytime I sit or bend down to take something, I often feel the pain. So, when I heard that this year the MP is coming to take care of eyes, I told myself perhaps this pain in my eye will be over,” she said.
Farmer Zongo Paayel, 64, is also hoping the screening will provide answers to eye problems he has experienced for some time.
But Dr. Nawaane said the current screening is only the first stage of the intervention.
Residents found to have eye conditions requiring specialist care are being documented for follow-up treatment, with those requiring surgery expected to receive it when a team of specialists visits the district.
“We want to get a list of patients and bring specialists, ophthalmologists, to come and operate so that they can have their eyesight back or improve on their vision,” he said.
Dr. Nawaane said he expects the exercise to identify at least 300 people for specialist eye care when an ophthalmology team returns to Nabdam in November.
According to him, the team is expected to include specialists from Accra, Marseille and the United States.
The MP said the shift towards eye care is part of a broader approach to identifying health needs in the district and directing subsequent interventions towards conditions for which residents struggle to access treatment.
The initiative is receiving support from the Ghana Health Service through health facilities in the district, while the Haven of Love Foundation, through Samuel Nana Bekai Djirackor, is providing professional support.
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