Blind school blog Pt 2: Exam day in Tamale Teaching Hospital

30 January 2015

Today 16 children with 4 teachers came from the Blind School in Wa for exam to our hospital. I raised some funds for their transportation so they took their own bus. They arrived around 1pm. We started the exam right away while a teacher got their folders. They were extremely cooperative and respectful – very easy patients. Out of the 11 possible surgical candidates we identified 9, and 2 could be helped by glasses. A student got an injection for a blind, painful eye and a prosthesis to the other eye which was removed earlier because of pain. We took them to have an ultrasound and lab-work for future anesthesia. They marched around the hospital in their uniform bravely, hardly letting us hold their hands.

I examined the teachers too and one of them, Abdul-Salaam was found to have diabetes, hypertension and glaucoma, all of which he was unaware of.

They brought their food with them and after the exam, they sat down to eat – just rice with sauce. Then they took off to make the 5-hour journey back home, unfortunately in the dark. It is not advisable in developing countries to drive after sunset, as the chance of an accident is much higher. Fortunately, they arrived unharmed.