Strengthening eyecare in healthcare at Dzelukope

A person’s ability to see is more important to many. Perhaps that is why people often prize their vision to all other senses. Indeed, one study even went further to explain why some people consider losing their eyesight to be the worst health ailment that could befall them. Interestingly, what makes the situation even more alarming is the staggering statistics that more than 2 billion people globally face vision impairment. Of the number, experts say almost half of the cases could have been prevented with early detection and care. Although the idea of sight loss can be scary, the prompt diagnosis by an eye specialist can and in many cases, help preserve vision. Eyecare Dzelukope Although there are several eyecare centres concentrated in the cities, Eyecare services at Dzelukope has made the town popular to many. Today, Dzelukope is synonymous to eyecare because of a missionary’s effort to preserve the sight of people. Upon his arrival in Ghana in 1960, Rev. Fr. Joseph Cramers, SMA, a missionary from Holland working at Anfoega, Liati, Kete-Krachi, Jasikan, Vakpo and Denu, had observed challenges some people he encountered had with their sights. His interest to do something about the situation increased when he was newly posted as the Parish Priest of Dzelukope, St Peter Claver Catholic Church, in 1970, replacing Rev. Fr. William De-Roy of Scotland. Fr. Cramers with additional responsibility as the local manager of Catholic Schools in the area, saw the difficulty some teachers had in writing their lesson notes as a result poor vision. The situation worried him and he thought of helping improve the visions of the teachers so they could effectively teach and help prepare the students for life. Consequently, when visiting Holland in 1978, he brought fixed reading spectacles with him to Ghana, which he issued to the teachers and other workers in the area who had poor vision. This effort, led to the establishment of the New Look Optical Works in May 1979, and he went further to recruit some youth for training in order to handle the optical works. Extension of Eyecare Services Since its inception, Fr. Cramers and his team by dint of hard work took care of the sight of the people within the Keta enclave and beyond. Due to the special care they gave to their patrons at Dzelukope and through routine outreaches, word soon spread to the other parts of the region of the effective eyecare services the New Look Optical Works was offering. Driven by the desire to serve the people who overwhelmingly subscribed to the care at Dzelukope, Fr Cramers in 1984, barely five (5) years after starting the main office at Dzelukope, opened the first branch at Yendi and another one at Nsawam in 1985. Other branches were opened at Takoradi, Half-Assini, Saboba, Jasikan, Aflao, and Ho among others. Operating under the guidelines of National Catholic Health Service, now National Catholic Health Trust, as well as under the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), and sharing the compound with the St Peter Claver Catholic Church, evoked the compassion and dedication with which staff attended to health seekers. Transition of Eyecare With its speciality in eye care, the facility has over the years rendered services in eye screening, refraction and dispensing of drugs and spectacles. And through the walls of Dzelukope’s New Look Optical Works, thousands have regained their sights and many who feared going blind had their fears assuage after being attended to by specialist from Dzelukope. Indeed, after 50 years of his missionary work in Ghana, 31 of which was directly invested in eyecare, and having attended to hundreds of thousands of patients from different parts of the country and neighbouring countries, Fr. Cramers left the shores of Ghana in 2010, due to ill-health. Prior to leaving, Fr Cramers handed over the New Look Optical Facility to then Bishop of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Kwami Adanuty in 2010. Fr. Cramers however passed-on on 31st December 2012, two years after leaving the shores of Ghana. At a memorial Mass held in his honour, in April 2013, at Dzelukope, Emeritus Bishop Adanuty decreed that the name New Look Optical Works be changed to Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre. Indeed, it was to honour the man who made Dzelukope a household name for quality eyecare. Elevation of facility The announcement by Very Rev. Fr. Lt. Col. Winfred Delali Kodzo Sraha (Rtd), Keta-Akatsi Diocesan Administrator of Health of the elevation of the Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre, Dzelukope to the status of a Clinic did not come as a surprise to many patrons at this year’s World Day of the Sick held at Dzelukope. This is partly because of the hard work of the staff, which Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, Buishop of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese and the Diocesan Administrator commended the staff of the Centre for keeping the dreams of the founder the late Rev. Fr. Joseph Cramers, SMA alive. They both urged staff not to relent in their oars but to keep up the good work to sustain the gains made. New Project and Appeal To further enhance improved services of the facility to the public, Mr Daniel Gemegah, Acting Director of the Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre and Clinic, stated that a two (2) storey building us under construction to give clinic a bigger space to attend to more patients. The construction which is about 80 per cent completed, according to the Acting Director was the joint effort of the staff and the Diocesan Health Directorate. Noting that the construction was funded by internally generated funds since 2017, Mr Gemegah appealed to well-meaning Ghanaians, and donors to support the early completion of the project. Indeed, since eyecare is crucial in healthcare, it is essential to support and strengthen the Joseph Cramers New Look Optical Centre and Clinic to be Bigger and better Eyecare facility in serving Ghanaians in rural setting. By Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng

Don’t discriminate against the sick

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Kofidua has urged Catholic health providers to sustain quality care provision to every patient and respect their dignity, adding that the Church’s health facilities were not-for-profit, but meant to serve the health needs of all.

The Bishop reiterated Pope Francis’ call for healthcare providers to continue serving the sick with renewed energy, at the joint Arch/Diocesan launch of the World Day of the Sick for the Accra Archdiocese, Koforidua Diocese and the Donkorkrom Vicariate at the Holy Family Nursing Training School, Nkawkaw.

He urged health professionals to serve all fairly and not discriminate against any health seeker, stressing that everyone was a child of God and needed to be accorded the greatest care.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum, who also visited and prayed for kids at the Children’s Ward at the Holy Family Hospital, re-echoed the fact that the health profession was a vocation and a call to serve, saying, those solely seeking monetary gains were in the wrong profession.

Nana Effah Opinamang III, Obominghene, who chaired the function, commended the Church for instituting the World Day of the Sick, entreating her to sustain the event to promote efforts at bringing relief to the sick.

He entreated health practitioners to cultivate favourable relationships with their patients, show them compassion and sensitise them to live responsibly and tidy their environment to promote health.

The Chief also appealed to the Government to continue the good projects started by the previous governments in order to help the rural poor access affordable health care in their localities.

Mr. Victus Kwaku Kpesese, Executive Secretary, Koforidua Diocesan Health Service, noted that the recognition of staff at the annual function was to motivate hardworking staff and thank the awardees for their efforts in helping save lives. 

 

He also entreated managers of the various health facilities to up their effort in making their recommendation for the awards in time.

   

Dr. Isaac Adu-Poku Antwi, Medical Director of the Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw, said the World Day of the Sick offers an opportunity for the healthcare providers to reflect on the sick and those suffering.

He called on health practitioners to be wary of medico legal issues that could land them in legal tangos, huge fines, imploring caregivers to be circumspect in the care they give.

Similarly, Ms Celestine Asante, Kwahu West Municipal Directress for Health, who commended the Catholic Church’s effort in health delivery, tasked health workers to go the extra mile in extending care to the sick.

Likewise, Rev. Fr. Richmond Sintim, Chaplain of the St. Joseph Hospital, Koforidua, urged care givers to respect the dignity of their patient and focus on giving them the best of care at all times.

At the function, some staff of the Emergency Unit of the Holy Family Hospital staged a sketch on how a lady trapped in a galamsey pit was resuscitated by the staff, after the ambulance brought her. The cast at the end, added their voice to calls to end galamsey in the country.    

The Bishop and Dignitaries with the awardee

Mr. Donatus Duncan Adaletey, Executive Secretary for Health in the Accra Archdiocese read a citation in honour of Mrs. Catherine Agbotame Hdzor, who was adjudged the Best Worker, Senior Category, in the Archdiocese for her long dedicated service.

An elated Mrs. Hadzor who couldn’t hide her delight, danced to the melodious tunes rendered by the Therapeutic Voices of the Holy Family Hospital.

She thanked God for the honour and expressed gratitude to management and staff of the Battor Catholic Hospital.

CHAG Launches Golden Jubilee

The Dignitaries at the launch

The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) has launched its Golden Jubilee Anniversary, amidst calls for all stakeholders to uphold the Church-State partnership and strengthen growth and development of Ghana’s health sector.

Most Rev. Philip Naameh, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference who made the call, enumerated some challenges CHAG facilities were facing, and asked Government and Ghanaians to take a critical look at the financial sustainability of CHAG health services in the interest and viability of Ghana Health System.

In its 50-year existence, Archbishop Naameh, noted that CHAG has facilitated equitable access to health care, by the poor, needy, marginalized, neglected and vulnerable segments of the society.         

Touching on the theme for the jubilee: “50 years of Christian Health Service Delivery; improving and sustaining innovations,” the Archbishop, who doubles as the Archbishop of Tamale, stated that through the modest contributions of CHAG, many lives and livelihoods have been restored.

He said CHAG as the second largest provider of Health Service in Ghana, with about 30-35% share of health service output, pioneered and piloted 40 Community Based Insurance Schemes, in the 1990s that culminated into Ghana’s National Health Scheme in 2004.  

“In crisis situations, we serve as buffers and resilience to the health system; our non-strike tradition under all circumstances has immeasurably supported and strengthened our county’s health system against shocks and perineal challenges” he stated.

Archbishop Naameh paid glowing tributes to the owners of CHAG, the Government for their collaboration over the years and the missionaries for their invaluable role, as well as commended all CHAG frontline staff for their dedication and commitment. He also applauded the efforts of the development partners and the stakeholders for their support.

He however challenged the CHAG staff to reflect on the mission to serve humanity with dedication and fidelity, in order to sustain the delivery of quality health care to all. 

Dame Dr. Mrs. Agatha Akua Bonney, Chairperson of CHAG Board, who chaired the function remarked that the occasion was a historic one which celebrates quality Christian health delivery to Ghanaians and others in neighbouring countries.

Acknowledging the fruits of collaborative support, sacrifices of people, who contributed in CHAG’s milestone, she noted that the association should in the next 50 years be dynamic and poise for action and innovation.

She noted that CHAG must seek to reposition herself to be relevant in the healing ministry and in anchoring the hopes of health seekers and all stakeholders to access improved and sustainable quality, accessible and affordable health care.

Archbishop Philip Naameh being assisted to cut the tape

The Executive Director of CHAG, Mr. Peter K. Yeboah, who recounted that the Association was formed in 1967 as a formal collaborative network of the Christian Missionaries in Health care.

“Today, through a network of 302 Health Facilities and Health Training Institutions, CHAG continues to serve as a reliable partner in Ghana’s health sector.”

Mr. Yeboah commended the Church leaders and founding fathers for forging a Christian Health Service dedicated to promoting ethical healthcare and holistic formation of health workers. He thanked Government and all stakeholders, including the Board members for their diverse contribution to CHAG’s growth and development.

He announced that the Golden Jubilee celebrations, which would be climaxed early November 2017 would take place across, districts and various communities of Ghana.

CHAG Golden Jubilee House

In a solidarity message Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, General Secretary of Christian Council of Ghana, entreated CHAG not to limit the celebration to the office based on or a religious entertainment but must involve the Church and Ghanaians, while extolling the achievement of CHAG.

Faced with dwindling donor funds and other financial constraints, Dr. Opuni-Frimpong charged Ghanaian Christians to be prepared to support the sustenance and development of the Christian Health service in Ghana.

He tasked CHAG facilities to be uphold their unique Christian identity, and strengthen quality assurance in the quality delivery healthcare.

Among dignitaries’ present was Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, Bishop of Ho and the Episcopal Chairman for Health who together with others unveiled the Golden Jubilee anniversary cloth.

As part of the Anniversary, the newly refurbished Golden Jubilee building at the Secretariat was commissioned by Archbishop Naameh and the dignitaries at the launch.

Some dignitaries displaying the anniversary cloth