IN Accra, the capital of Ghana, an early September morning witnesses the dedicated efforts of Chinese ophthalmologists at the LEKMA Hospital, also known as the China-Ghana Friendship Hospital. Two skilled Chinese medical professionals, Lei Peng from the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital and Tang Xiaodi from the 12th Chinese medical team in Ghana, are tirelessly working to provide free cataract surgeries to patients. These surgeries aim to restore vision to individuals whose eyesight has been impaired by cataracts.
Over the course of a single morning, the two ophthalmologists have already successfully performed free cataract surgeries on three patients. This collaborative effort is part of the Seeing The Beautiful World project, an outreach initiative that was launched in November of the previous year by the Chinese medical team, with support from various Chinese businesses. Lei and Tang, dedicated to their mission, have been performing free phacoemulsification cataract surgeries for locals since September 11. By the time of reporting, they had completed 71 surgeries, edging closer to their project’s target of 100 cases.
Lei Peng, who had previously been part of the Chinese medical team in Ghana in 2016, returned to support the current team out of his deep affection for the West African country. He emphasised the transformative impact of cataract surgery, stating that it restores light to people’s lives. For those who were completely blind due to cataracts, regaining their sight enables them to work and contribute to their families, alleviating the burden on their loved ones.
China has been dispatching medical teams to Ghana since 2009, with over 100 medical professionals providing crucial assistance to the West African nation.
One of the beneficiaries of the free cataract surgery, 79-year-old Georgina Addy, had been battling cataracts for five years. High treatment costs had prevented her from seeking help at other hospitals. After her successful procedure, Addy expressed her gratitude to the Chinese doctors who promptly attended to her medical needs, relieving her of the financial burden and pain associated with her eye condition.
‘My eye has been painful, and a neighbour recommended the LEKMA Hospital to me. I visited here in August and reported with my laboratory reports yesterday. Today, they brought us to the theatre, and they performed the surgery for me, and I am okay now,’ she told Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Cataracts are a common and reversible cause of visual impairment among Ghanaians. However, the prohibitive cost of surgery has limited access to treatment for many low-income individuals. The free cataract surgeries conducted by the Chinese medical team bring tremendous relief to beneficiaries and their families.
Senam Aidam, head of the ophthalmology unit at LEKMA Hospital, praised the efforts of Doctor Lei and the team, highlighting the satisfaction of their clients and the positive outcomes of the surgeries.
‘Doctor Lei worked with us in 2016 and then returned to China but decided to come back to help us perform more surgeries. The results are good, and our clients are satisfied with the outcome,’ said Aidam. ‘They are all very happy,’ he added.