During a mid-campaign check-in for KnowTheGlow Ghana, the KnowTheGlow (KTG) team: Megan Webber (Co-founder), Helene Dameris (Director of Global Outreach), and Ruth Ngaruiya (Programs Manager, Africa) met with Dr. Mohammed Sherrif Fuseini and Dr. Zulfiya Gbedemah both from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to hear reflections from the field.
Dr. Mohammed Fuseini, a physician based in southern Ghana, shared how his clinical practice has become a platform for raising awareness about childhood glaucoma. While working at a psychiatric facility, he’s been using WhatsApp and day-to-day consultations to share KTG’s campaign images and messages with patients and healthcare workers. His efforts are already making an impact. He recounted how one parent recognized symptoms in their three-month-old baby after seeing a campaign image, leading to a timely diagnosis of congenital glaucoma. Looking ahead, he emphasized the need for audio-visual materials in local languages and suggested integrating glaucoma screening into routine vaccination visits, particularly by empowering nurses. When asked about his interest in data science, Dr. Fuseini shared that his journey began with learning to code and has since developed alongside his medical career.
Dr. Zulfiya Gbedemah, a junior doctor with a strong interest in ophthalmology, discussed her work in promoting the KTG message. She has been actively engaging parents, medical students, and fellow junior doctors to raise awareness of childhood blindness and the importance of early eye screenings, especially in rural areas. She is also part of the Touch of Hope Foundation, a grassroots initiative focused on child health in underserved communities. The Foundation has an upcoming outreach event that will bring these messages to families who often lack access to eye health information.
Together, the group discussed strategies for deepening community education and strengthening childhood eye health efforts across Ghana. They agreed on the value of creating vernacular-language videos to make awareness campaigns more accessible and proposed incorporating screenings into child welfare clinics. There was also enthusiasm about involving medical and optometry students more actively in outreach programs. Megan noted that Ghana could serve as a regional model for pediatric eye care, especially if outreach activities are well-documented through photos and stories that highlight community participation.
Megan reaffirmed KnowTheGlow’s commitment to advancing awareness efforts in Ghana, with plans for virtual seminars and educational sessions.