The Problem
Globally, an estimated 19 million children under 15 years are visually impaired, and over of 1.4 million children are irreversibly blind. A systematic review on the data for global pediatric blindless concluded that in developing countries, 7 to 31% of childhood visual impairment is avoidable, 10 to 58% treatable, and 3 to 28% preventable. In Ghana, it is estimated that childhood blindness accounts for 5 to 10% of the national burden of blindness. In rural areas in Ghana, underprivileged children encounter a substantial barrier in accessing essential eye care services. Limited resources, coupled with a lack of awareness and socio-economic challenges, create an environment where visual health becomes a neglected aspect of their overall well-being. This predicament is further exacerbated by the potential for avoidable blindness, which not only impacts their immediate quality of life but also hinders their educational and future life opportunities.
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