Feature: Chinese doctors restore sight for Ghanaian cataract patients

The hope of some 200 Ghanaian cataract patients to see clearly again has been realized, thanks to a team of Chinese ophthalmologists who operated on them.

The team, under the Chinese-funded Bright Journey Project, has restored sights to these people who have lived with this condition for several years.

Fatima Alhassan has lived with an eye problem for 15 years before she was introduced to Chinese eye specialists who since November have provided free cataract surgeries under the China-funded Bright Journey Project.

"I couldn't drive at night and I had to pay somebody to drive me. Just out of the blue, somebody told me about this project. Look at me, I can see. I am really happy," she told Xinhua in an interview after a ceremony to inspect cured patients at the China-Ghana Friendship Hospital in Accra.

For Rebecca Yaa Borkor Abbey, the surgery has brought her more hope because her sight has been restored after going totally blind for more than five years.

"I feel on top of the world. I can see clearly," she said.

"Two weeks ago, they used to hold my hand before I could walk because I didn't see anything, totally blind. But today I can see even with one eye," she said.

A medical team comprised of 10 people including eight ophthalmologists from China's Zhongshan University have been providing free surgeries for the local patients since November, this year.

Zheng Danying, a Chinese ophthalmologist and a member of the medical team, told Xinhua that she saw the joy and ecstasy in the cured patients after each surgery.

"A male patient came to the hospital and had to need somebody to carry him but after surgery he can walk all by himself. So they feel very happy and we also feel very happy to help Ghana's patients." Zheng said.

"We cherish the precious relations and friendship together with Ghana people," said Wang Jiawei, the medical team leader.

In Ghana, about 60,000 cataract patients are created yearly but the country is only able to treat about 15,000 of them.

Apart from surgeries, the Chinese team also trained the local doctors on how to conduct the operations and donated medical equipment and instruments for ophthalmological treatment to Ghana's Ministry of Health.

Ghana's Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur hinted at the government's intention to continue and sustain the intervention even as the Chinese specialists leave Ghana.

"We will accept with gratitude the equipment that you are leaving behind and I am sure that they will put them to the best use possible." said the Veep. Enditem