Founder of Save the Eye Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization, Moses Akanlo Dery, has cautioned Ghanaians against self-medication, warning that it could lead to blindness if not properly managed.
He made this statement during his visit to the New Life Nungua Children’s Home, where he organized free health screenings, particularly eye screenings, and donated items such as soft drinks, toiletries, and foodstuffs to the home.
Speaking at the event, Moses Aderry explained that Save the Eye Foundation is an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of proper eye care and the dangers of self-medication.
He shared his personal experience as a revenue officer, revealing that he had once fallen victim to self-medication for eye-related issues, which ultimately resulted in his blindness.
This experience, according to him, motivated him to educate the public and warn them against the risks of self-medication.
“Since I’m a victim of self-medication, I’ve taken it upon myself to go around and educate the general public to abstain from self-medication. Some eye-related diseases can be reversed, but unfortunately, when we self-medicate, it becomes difficult to treat, leading to blindness,” Mr. Derry said.
He further emphasized that many people, out of ignorance, go blind, just as he did.
“So, I am taking this opportunity to advise the general public to stay away from self-medication,” he added.
During the event, Mr. Derry explained that the purpose of screening the children at the home was to assess the status of their eyes, since their genetics cannot be traced.
He also noted that understanding their eye health would be helpful in any future adoption process.
“The purpose of this program is to assess the status of these kids’ eyes because you cannot trace their genetics. That is why we came this afternoon—to determine their eye health, so that if someone comes to adopt one of them, the person will have full details of their health condition. It wouldn’t be a problem for the person adopting the child,” he explained.
He stressed that Save the Eye Foundation’s advocacy focuses on orphanages, as many of these children lack the resources for proper eye care.
“That is why Save the Eye Foundation has extended this program to orphanages, because they don’t have anyone to care for their eyes. Everyone goes to orphanages to provide food and clothes, but many do not care about the children’s health,” he stated.
“That’s why Save the Eye Foundation has taken it upon itself to visit orphanages and focus on their health, especially their eyes, to prevent future problems.”
He urged the public to take proper care of their eyes, avoid self-medication, and visit a hospital for checkups if they experience any issues.
He also appealed to stakeholders, philanthropists, NGOs, and the general public for support in spreading this important message across the country.
Nii Afotey Botwe II, the founder of New Life Nungua Children’s Home, expressed gratitude to Save the Eye Foundation for their generous contribution to the children’s well-being.
He joined the call against self-medication, emphasizing that it is harmful to the eyes and can lead to blindness.
Nii Afotey Botwe II also called on the government and the public to support the home, particularly with its new building project that will serve as a girls’ dormitory, as well as financial assistance to help with the home’s bills.
“We are appealing to Ghanaians that there are many things we can achieve together if we all join hands and stretch forth our support, especially for vulnerable children living in shelters, orphanages, and other institutions. Running such organizations is not easy,” he said.
“When we talk about utility bills in our homes, it’s tough, especially when children are in school, some of them even in tertiary education without scholarships.”
He further appealed to the government to exempt licensed orphanages and residential homes from paying utility bills, as this financial burden is a significant challenge for these institutions.
The Executive Director of Save the Eye Foundation, Madam Patience Offei, also emphasized the importance of the program, stating that it is aimed at ensuring the health of the children.
“Our ambition for this program is to care for the children, the needy, those who don’t have anywhere to go or anyone to turn to. Normally, we buy things and come around to put smiles on their faces, but we often forget that their health is more important,” she said.
Madam Offei noted that many of the children suffer from eye problems and assured that the foundation would continue its efforts to seek treatment for them, contributing to raising awareness about eye health among vulnerable children.
She also called on parents to be more attentive to their children’s eye health, noting that many are not sufficiently concerned.
Madam Patience Offei also appealed to the government to support the foundation in strengthening its efforts to assist those with severe eye conditions.
Dr. Raymond Solomon Nimako, an entomologist responsible for the screening, reported that approximately 90 children were screened, though the target was 150.
He revealed that 50 percent of the children were suffering from eye problems, particularly glaucoma and cataracts, which he attributed to their diets.
He reiterated the importance of avoiding self-medication, urging people to consult doctors for prescriptions rather than purchasing medication from pharmacies.
