The Director of Pharmacy, Dr. Daniel Ankrah, has admonished researchers in the hospital to rub shoulders with the world by publishing their findings and not confine it to the corridors of their Departments or Units.
“As you present your findings today, think about how to talk to the world. Publishing your work means, you are talking to the whole world. When you publish your work, then it means you are rubbing shoulders with the world,” Dr. Ankrah advised.
He made these remarks at the sixth edition of the Lions International Eye Centre (LIEC) Annual Research Fair, which was on the theme; “Promoting participation in Operational Research among eye care professionals”. The Fair, has over the years, allowed the Department to produce research at all levels, directed towards solving problems within the Department.
The Acting Head of Department, Dr. Gladys Fordjour, said this research exercise is in fulfilment of the Hospital’s mandate by highlighting its contributions to research. “The amazing work done in all Departments of this great Hospital is not based on the adhoc decision but on research conducted all over the world, whether clinical or non- clinical’, She noted.
She added that, this is what has made the Hospital a Centre of Excellence in the sub-region and beyond.
Dr. Fordjour also discussed findings from other previous published eye screening done for staff of the Eye Centre and findings, which included Glaucoma. She recommended that, other Departments and Sub-BMCs within the Hospital should screen their staff members for eye related diseases.
Paediatric Ophthalmologist, Professor V. A. Essuman, mentioned that the research is something they have always wished and worked for, adding that, it has enabled the Department to become well focused and produced researchers at all levels over the past six years.
“It is actually your research that makes someone in the far part of the world who may never meet you to know you,” Professor Essuman concluded.
The sixth edition of the fair had participation from five units in the department such as the Research Unit, Residents, Optometry unit, Nursing unit, and the Pharmacy Unit
HIGHLIGHT OF THE FINDINGS
In two presentations on the topics – The Role or Achievements of the Eye Centre’s Research Office in Promoting Participation in Research, and Patient Waiting Time – Reverend Benjamin Abaidoo mentioned that amongst the achievements chalked by the Research Office includes provision of eye screening services to religious bodies and communities, assisting in the acquisition of several diagnostic equipment to the Eye Centre, maiden eye screening of Eye Centre staff, assisting Residents and Nurses in publishing their thesis in reputable journals and winning of both local and international grants.
Rev. Benjamin Abaidoo also mentioned that the findings from the waiting time study show that patients spend an average of five (5) hours waiting for services, which is higher than the average waiting time in most developing countries.
The Residents doctors in a presentation led by Dr. Nehemiah Hammond on Cataract Surgical Waiting Time and its associated factors among patients in the Lions International Eye Centre revealed that 20% of patient’s cataract surgeries had their surgeries done within six to twelve months after diagnosis, which was comparable to other developed countries. Again, 70 per cent of respondents admitted no delay in having their surgeries done.
In a study conducted by Dr. Kwame O. Okyere of the Optometry Unit and presented by Dr. Nhyira Boahene on vision rehabilitation with Aphakic Contact Lenses for patients with unilateral Aphakia, the findings revealed that the common type of refraction error among the study participants were compound Hyperopic Astigmatism by people (66.7%) and High Hyperopia (33.3%).
Complicated Cataract (38.9%) and dislocated lens of (38.9%) were found to be the two most common causes of Aphakia, followed by Congenital Cataract (11.1%). While subluxated Lens and Optical Iridecteomy recorded the least numbers as a cause (5.6%).
Further, the study observed that about 17 (94%) participants had improvement in visual acuity with Aphakic contact lenses whereas only 1 (6%) subject showed no improvement over spectacle correction. Age was associated with the cause of Cataract.
The Nursing Unit led by Mrs. Sarah Doe-Bright presented on Evaluating the Impact of Eye Health Education Among Clients at the Eye Centre. The findings showed that about sixty-eight percent (68%) of respondents showed increased knowledge from eye health education.
Mr. Jatoe Dong of the Pharmacy Unit presented on Pharmacy Service Delivery in Ophthalmology; The role of the Eye Pharmacy Unit in the provision of pharmaceutical services at the Lions International Eye Centre (LIEC). The findings showed that utilization of pharmaceutical care interventions varied between fifty percent (50%) lowest (2020) to seventy percent (70%) highest in (2022).
