The Ghana Red Cross Society has handed over a new Eye Clinic to the Tamale Central Hospital to provide effective ophthalmological services to clients.

The Clinic, built with funding support from the Swiss Red Cross, formed part of the Ghana Red Cross Society's Eye Health Services (EHS) project.

The EHS project is being implemented in partnership with the Ghana Health Service and supported by the Swiss Red Cross in the Northern, North East and Savannah regions.

Dr Thomas Gurtner, the Director of International Cooperation at the Swiss Red Cross, during the commissioning of the clinic, said the facility would contribute to increased access to eye health services and improve the general well-being of the people of Tamale and its environs.

He said good sight was an important part of human well-being, and encouraged residents to go for early eye screening before their eye problems got complicated.

Dr Gurtner said as part of the EHS project, his organisation had, over the years, contributed to improved eye health of the people in the implementing regions, including screening of school children for eye problems and treatment.

He implored management of the Hospital to ensure proper maintenance of the facility to guarantee its sustainability to the benefit of all.

Dr John Bertson Eleeza, the Northern Regional Health Director, commended the Swiss Red Cross and its partners for supporting the Tamale Central Hospital with the Eye Clinic and said it would help to boost Ghana's aspirations to attain Universal Health Coverage.

"I wish to pledge the commitment and oversight of the Regional Health Directorate towards the maintenance and proper operationalisation of the facility," he said.

Mr Abdulai Fatawu, the Administrator of the Hospital, expressed gratitude to the sponsors and pledged his commitment to ensuring that the Clinic was put to good use.

Meanwhile, Dr Gurtner, who was on a monitoring tour to some of the EHS project areas, visited and interacted with some beneficiaries receiving various eye treatment services, including cataract surgeries at the Kumbungu Health Centre.