Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation and HCP Cureblindness Partner to Cure Cataract Blindness in Ghana
Over the next week, the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation and HCP Cureblindness will partner with each other to cure patients of cataract blindness in Koforidua, Ghana.
A New Partnership
HCP Cureblindness is a non-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating preventable and curable blindness throughout underserved communities worldwide by providing high-quality eye care, education, and world-class eye care infrastructure. Founded in 1995 by Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation co-founder Dr Sanduk Ruit and Dr Geoffrey Tabin, the project has since grown to become one of the most successful and innovative eye care initiatives in the world. Since its founding, HCP has performed more than 1.19 million sight-restoring surgeries and provided screening and basic care to over 13.3 million people.
Much like the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation, HCP’s approach to eye care is unique in that it focuses on training local healthcare professionals to perform high-quality cataract surgeries. Projects provide training and equipment to healthcare professionals, who then go on to provide eye care services in their own communities. This action-based approach builds local leadership, empowers key actors, and develops sustainable practices from the ground up.
Cataracts in Ghana
Cataracts are a common eye condition in Ghana. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that can cause blurred vision and, in some cases, complete vision loss. According to the World Health Organisation, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in Ghana, accounting for approximately 42% of all cases of blindness. Cataracts are most commonly seen in older adults, but they can also affect younger people. With early detection and treatment, the impact of cataracts on vision can be minimised, improving the quality of life for affected individuals in Ghana.
Cataracts in Ghana can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, nutrition, and exposure to sunlight. Malnutrition is a significant factor contributing to cataracts, particularly in children. Additionally, exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun is a risk factor for cataracts in Ghana due to the high incidence of intense sunlight. Fortunately, cataracts are treatable in most cases. Surgery is the most common treatment for cataracts and involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.
In Ghana, there are various programs and initiatives aimed at providing affordable and accessible cataract surgeries to people in need, particularly those living in rural areas — this is what the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation and HCP will be building upon during March.
This outreach campaign is made possible by the organization and leadership of the National Cataract Outreach Programme (NCOP). In 2018, NCOP was created in collaboration between HCP and Ghana Health Services to address the backlog of cataract cases across the country. An integral part of the health care system, NCOP organises surgical interventions to serve the most needed and provides training and standardization of care at regional health centres. The upcoming outreach hosted at Koforidua Regional Hospital will bring together partners from across the country to provide training, equipment, and ophthalmic services to those in need.
Over the next week, teams from the Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation, alongside teams from HCP will journey to Koforidua to cure patients of needless cataract blindness. The outreach will take place over five days with Dr Sanduk Ruit in attendance. He will personally cure many patients by removing their cataracts in just 7 minutes. The following day, patients will have their sight restored and will be able to live a life free of blindness.
The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is an NGO founded by Dr Sanduk Ruit and Mr Tej Kohli. It is part of their mission to create a lasting legacy of social and economic change across many isolated underserved communities in the developing world.
HCP Cureblindness works to eradicate preventable and curable blindness throughout underserved communities worldwide. With the help of its global partners, HCP provides high-quality eye care, education, and world-class eye care infrastructure in over 20 countries. Since its founding in 1995, HCP has performed over 1.19 million sight-restoring surgeries and provided screening and basic care to over 13.3 million people.
The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation is a restricted fund operating under the auspices of Prism The Gift Fund, registered UK charity number 1099682.
