The Optometry Students Association of the University of Cape Coast has climaxed its week-long celebration with a call on upcoming practitioners to uphold high standards of the profession so that they would continue to be relevant and competitive in the ever-challenging job market.
The climax was chaired by Professor D. K. Essumang, Dean of School of Physical Sciences and the guest of honour was the Central Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Mfantseman West Constituency, Hon. Acquinas Tawiah Quansah.
Speaking at the event, the Central Regional Minister reiterated the important role that optometry plays in driving national development.
“A nation with people with good eye sight enhances productivity and therefore eye care is paramount to the development of every nation. This would ensure the eradication of preventable eye blindness which is the core ingredient of vision 20, 20” he said.
Hon. Acquinas also called on Ghanaian to seek for routine eye check-up to ensure proper diagnosing because different people have different health needs.
He promised to secure a bus for the School of Optometry but charged the students to move to the hinterland and offer eye care services to area where the government had provided chip compounds.
This initiative, he said, his Office would provide allowances and transport fare to volunteers who would be willing to do so.
Earlier, speaking on the topic, “Thirteen years of Optometry training in UCC: Achievements and Challenges” Prof. Owusu-Ansah of the School of Optometry took patrons through the struggles and the success story the school had chalked over the last thirteen years and lauded the efforts of past and present people who have contributed in diverse ways to help the school to have its befitting status.
Speaking on the theme “Promoting quality general health care, the role of the optometrist and the challenges encountered,” Optometrist at the Christian Eye Clinic, Dr. Paa Kwesi Hope advised practitioners of Optometry to offer quality service to client through counseling, adoption of modern technology, offering prompt care, working in teams and creating conducive environment in order to win the trust of society in general.
Secretary to the Ghana Optometrists Association, ASP. Dr. Remi Ninkpe however, bemoaned the doctor-patient ratio in eye care delivery in Ghana which he said stood at 1: 16,000 and called on government to prioritize eye care in Ghana.
He challenged faculty to churn out graduate who would remain continually relevant and could effectively apply theories from the lecture rooms onto the field when they graduate.
The President of Optometry Student Association of Ghana, UCC branch, (OSAG, UCC) Abu Sampson Listowell thanked the dignitaries for making time out of their busy schedules to be part of the week celebration and that the Association was ready to offer more eye care services to the vulnerable and needy within the Cape Coast catchment area.
