A strategic collaboration between the Member of Parliament for Wa East constituency and a private eye care provider Bliss Eye Care in the Upper west region has culminated in a targeted health drive for the district’s essential workforce. Led by the MP Hon. Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasew, 300 teachers and nurses were screen and provided with corrective lenses.
The project, which is being rolled out across three major zones Funsi, Loggu, and Bulenga was funded through the MP’s share of the District Assembly Common Fund.
According to the managing director of Bliss Eye Care, Dr. Zakarea Al-Hassan Balure, the medical team targeted a common age-related condition known as presbyopia, the gradual, natural loss of the eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects.
“Presbyopia basically affects people from age 40 and above who start experiencing difficulties with reading or near vision,” Dr. Balure explained. “However, of late, we are realizing that even people aged 35 and below are experiencing these conditions.”
Dr. Balure noted that visual impairment heavily impacts productivity in crucial sectors. After his outfit raised concerns with the MP, Dr. Jasew immediately bought into the idea of supporting the professionals who anchor the district’s healthcare and education systems.
“This group of people is really holding up our health and our future leaders, so an impact made on them will go a long way to help all of us,” Dr. Balure added.
Speaking to Pulung News, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Wa East, Hon. Adamu Shaibu, praised the long-standing collaboration between the Member of Parliament and Dr. Zakarea Balure, the CEO of Bliss Eye Care.
Hon. Shaibu expressed profound gratitude to the MP for investing in the health and productivity of essential workers in the district.
Mr. Yahaya Mumuni Abdul-Rahaman, the Wa East District Director of Education, highlighted that the glasses would immediately improve classroom delivery.
“With the help of these glasses, teachers will be able to prepare their lesson notes effectively and write clearly on the board for students to learn,” Abdul-Rahaman said.
He revealed that the district currently employs approximately 1,800 teachers from kindergarten to Senior High School. While acknowledging that the current batch of 300 glasses cannot serve everyone, he expressed hope that the MP would expand the project’s scope in future phases to cover the remaining staff.
Representing the beneficiaries, Hon. Nbenaba Timothy, the Circuit Supervisor for the Kundungu Circuit, described the intervention as “a dream come true” for frontline workers, many of whom operate in remote hinterlands with limited access to healthcare.
“As teachers, we deal constantly with books and do a lot of reading. Once you are 40 or 50 plus, you need reading glasses,” Timothy noted. “Some of our teachers didn’t even know it was necessary to go for a test until they came here today and detected they needed reading glasses to do their work. This initiative will go a long way to help us.”
