HelpMeSee, the global not-for-profit dedicated to ending cataract blindness and visual impairment, announces the opening of a new training center at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. This milestone marks another critical expansion in the effort to eliminate preventable blindness from cataracts across Africa.
Equipped with the high-fidelity HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator, the Accra training center is designed to address urgent needs in ophthalmic surgical education by providing Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) training to both residents and practicing surgeons within Ghana and neighboring West African nations. A fully trained MSICS cataract surgeon can perform up to 30,000 surgeries in their career.
“This center represents more than a training facility, it’s a catalyst for transformation in surgical education,” said Dr. Nicoletta Fynn-Thompson, HelpMeSee Chief Medical Officer. “Our simulation-based training approach not only enhances surgical skills but also boosts patient safety and outcomes across the region.”
The Ghana training center serves as:
- A national training hub to improve the competency of Ghana’s ophthalmology workforce.
- A regional center of excellence for West Africa, promoting cross-border training collaborations.
- A model for the successful integration of simulation-based training into ophthalmic residency programs on the African continent.
“Delivering high-quality eye care equipment to partners helps us fulfill our mission to cure avoidable blindness,” says K-T Overbey, CEO of Cure Blindness Project about the NGO’s role in the recent shipment of ophthalmic instruments to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. “These partnerships allow patients to receive life-changing, sight-restoring care.”
The growing network of HelpMeSee Simulation-based Training Centers underscores its mission to combat the global cataract blindness crisis by empowering the next generation of skilled cataract surgeons. The Accra Center is the latest step toward a future where quality eye care is accessible to all—regardless of geography.
