HIVE GHANA FREE EYE SCREENING EXERCISE AT MANSO NKWANTA - REPORT

It is a beautiful day today, it is the eve of my birthday and I am already very much excited because I was basically blessed with a birthday gift of giving to the community through the hive, and for that, I want to express my sincerest gratitude to @mcsamm, @collinz, @theycallmedan, @guiltyparties, @valueplan and the leaders of DHF for making this a possibility.

So as was announced yesterday by the managers of the Hive Ghana project Mcsamm and Collinz, today I had the pleasure of leading our medical team to a remote area within the Ashanti Region by the name Manso Nkwanta to conduct a free eye screening exercise for the locals as well as offer free medications and glasses for them. Everything was fully sponsored by Hive. The program was a success and I am here to give you a breakdown of what transpired.

The Journey from Kumasi to Manso Nkwanta took approximately 3 hours, the fact that the road was quite bad added up to it, me and the rest of the team the persons of @awuahbenjamin, @zicogh, and @kreativita got to the town somewhere around 10am in the morning and proceeded to meet up with the Health Facility Administrator as well as other available health personnel whose facility we were going to use for this exercise. After we were welcomed, we proceed to have a talk with the community members who were already presented.

We spoke to them about Hive and what it stands for, and they came to understand that Hive stood for more than just free drugs or free screening programs and that they should encourage their wards at home to read more about Hive and join us. (The majority of individuals gathered there were geriatrics or aged). After the talks were done we proceeded to set up the place that would be used for consulting after which work began.

We had additional aid from two Nurses Charity and Stephannie who came to help us with documenting and the distribution of the drugs and other souvenirs. Items given out during the event included Hive-branded exercise books, Hive-branded Pens, Spectacles, Ophthalmic Drugs, and Systemic Drugs. These included;

• 50 Hive Branded exercise books for both staff and patients
• 40 Topical ophthalmic drugs
• A Box of Cetrizine Tablets
• 10 Strips of Paracetamol Tablets
• 15 Hive Branded Pens to Facility Staff Only

The exercise was extended to the Clinic's staff presented after every one of the community members presents was seen. The event lasted for approximately 4 hours 30 minutes after which had some time with the patients and staff to inquire about the event. (Please watch out for the video coverage and these interviews later). They expressed their gratitude and hoped that in the future they may get to benefit from Hive once again.

There was this special case I sought to mention though, one woman who had previously been diagnosed with Glaucoma at an eye clinic she visit some time back has been staying at home because she couldn't afford the Anti-Glaucoma eyedrops and today was given enough to last for some months and she literally cried to express her appreciation. And she really made me understand how impactful this exercise has been.

We left the town somewhere between 2:30 pm and 3:00pm GMT and we all managed to arrive safely at our various homes by 6:00pm. It was a great experience for me and I vehemently begin it is the beginning of great works to come I couldn't be grateful enough for this experience.

The eye is a beautiful, simple yet complicated organ that when not cared for appropriately could spell doom and when managed right brings light to one's life. There is nothing more beautiful than the smile of another whose sight has been given to through such charitable acts. And so even as I look forward to a greater tomorrow, I wish to admonish all who made this a possibility to keep up the good work and not relent.

Because somewhere out there someone's sight gets to survive because of these simple deeds. And so even as I wrap up, as a health care advocate I would like to end by reminding all of us to take particular attention to our health and have frequent health examinations. Avoid over-the-counter medication and when in doubt, always speak to a professional. Thanks for your time and have a blissful weekend.