Cataract Outreach and Training Event in Eastern Ghana

Working in partnership with Operation Eyesight Universal (OEU) in Ghana, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) managed a cataract surgical outreach in Akim Akroso in eastern Ghana from November 7 – November 11, 2016 at St. Theresa’s Hospital. Over the course of the week, the team provided 98 cataract surgeries and 17 pterygium surgeries. The surgical team included Dr. Boateng Wiafe (OEU), Dr. Akwasi Ahmed (KATH), Dr. John Welling (HCP), Dr. Eric Hansen (HCP Fellow), Dr. Joseph Kwarteng (KATH 2nd year resident), Dr. Mercy Dawson (local cataract surgeon), Dr. John Pajka (Ohio), Dr. Michael Yim (3rd year Bascom Palmer resident), Dr. Kristen Mendoza (1st year Ohio State resident) and Mr. Nabin Rai (Medical Coordinator from Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Nepal). In addition to performing surgeries, senior staff capitalized on the opportunity to train ophthalmology residents in small incision cataract surgery.

St. Theresa’s Hospital is a new facility, positioned between Accra and Kumasi, built as a partnership between Ohio State University and a Dutch non-profit organization. Much of the advanced screening was carried out by Dinah, an ophthalmic nurse from St. Theresa’s, and the follow-up will be managed by Dr. Mercy Dawson and Dinah.