KnowTheGlow and Orbis-Ghana recently came together to share about their joint efforts in addressing pediatric eye diseases in Ghana. The discussion brought together Megan Webber, Co-founder of KnowTheGlow, Helene Dameris, Director of Global Outreach, Ruth Ngaruiya, Program Manager for Africa, and Adolf Ollennu, Country Director of Orbis Ghana. Their shared mission is to expand awareness and improve access to essential eye care services for children.
Adolf Ollennu traced Orbis’s longstanding presence in Ghana, beginning with the Flying Eye Hospital’s first visit in 1990, followed by visits in 2006 and 2019. Another mission is planned for October 2025. Since 2014, Orbis has operated a formal program in the country, initially focusing on pediatric ophthalmology through partnerships with Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital l. This groundwork led to the establishment of a comprehensive pediatric unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, a leading teaching hospital. By 2017, Orbis began strengthening tertiary services while expanding outreach to regional and local health systems. This approach includes school-based screenings and a demand-driven model designed to help families make informed decisions about care.
One key strategy Orbis employs is storytelling. They have created a 10-minute documentary following the journey of a child with pediatric cataracts from diagnosis to recovery and it is used in guided film screenings. These sessions aim to foster trust and empower families to seek care by showing real-life experiences, rather than relying solely on instructions from health authorities.
Building local capacity remains a central pillar of Orbis’s approach. The organization has focused on enhancing referral systems by equipping healthcare workers with tools and training that align with their scopes of practice. Recognizing the particular needs of children, Orbis has prioritized pediatric-specific training for ophthalmic nurses, including counseling techniques. These efforts not only improve diagnostic accuracy but also give families reassurance through more personalized support.
Despite progress, Ghana faces a critical shortage of pediatric ophthalmologists. In the north, two specialists currently covers 10 of the country’s 16 regions, creating long wait times and delays in care. Orbis is helping to address this through training programs and task-sharing models that help expand the reach of care. They also support national infrastructure by working with the Ghana College of Physicians to develop a retinoblastoma database, helping track patients in underserved regions.
KTG was thrilled to hear that efforts are also underway to create national School Eye Health Guidelines, which are currently in development. These guidelines are intended to standardize screening practices and refractive error management across school systems. This document is co-created with Ghana Education Service and other major stakeholders and will be fully owned by the Ghana Education Service when developed.. The initiative reflects Orbis’s broader vision to equip trusted figures in the community; like teachers, to become advocates for children’s vision care.
Widespread myths and misinformation about eye conditions continue to hinder early treatment, despite the fact that 80% of childhood vision issues are preventable or treatable. To address this, Orbis has adopted a behavior-change model similar to those used in public health campaigns for diseases like HIV. Their strategy involves showing videos of patients before and after treatment, followed by small-group discussions to address fears, clarify facts, and encourage care-seeking behavior. Ollennu noted that the greatest challenge is often not treatment itself, but persuading families to take the first step. Regional variations in beliefs and practices further complicate this, making community engagement essential. It is hoped that KTG’s awareness campaign messaging and materials can assist in alleviating those fears and encourage early action to avoid delayed lag time in diagnosis.
Health financing remains another obstacle, particularly when it comes to basic services like providing eyeglasses. While Orbis offers some financial support, they continue to advocate for expanded healthcare coverage and partner with grassroots organizations that can offer sustainable, localized support. Encouragingly, systems are becoming more streamlined. Children now reach tertiary care centers more quickly, and feedback mechanisms are improving service delivery by ensuring patients are seen in a timely and coordinated way.
Through these efforts, KnowTheGlow and Orbis look forward to working together to build a more inclusive and effective system for pediatric eye care in Ghana, one that aims to give every child the chance to see clearly and live fully.
