Ghana Moves Towards Organ and Tissue Donation Bill to Address Corneal Blindness

Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Presidential Advisor on Health, has given assurance that the Organ and Tissue Donation Bill in Ghana, targeting cornea blindness, will be passed.

The draft bill is currently with the Ministry of Health, awaiting policy approval from the Cabinet and the Attorney General.

Dr. Nsiah-Asare highlighted the lack of awareness, insufficient donors, and inadequate infrastructure as challenges in Ghana’s current situation.

Speaking at the Corneal Transplant Summit in Accra dubbed, “Eliminating Corneal Blindness in Ghana. The Time is Now for Organ and Tissue Law,” Dr. Nsiah-Asare highlighted the bill’s importance, focusing on creating a Human Organ and Tissue Authority (HOT) to manage donations, establish a national register, and ensure ethical standards.

He called for public awareness campaigns, international collaboration, and investment in training and infrastructure to address corneal blindness.

With 26,000 people awaiting corneal transplants in Ghana, the need for a law ensuring fair and transparent organ and tissue donation is urgent.

Dr. James Addy, HCP Cureblindness Country Director, stated the impact of vision loss on employment and daily life.

Despite progress in eye care services, 230,000 Ghanaians are blind, and 330,000 suffer severe vision loss.

Dr. Seth Lartey, Corneal Surgeon at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, urged the government to pass the bill, enabling the establishment of eye banks and equitable transplantation services.

Dr. Dziffa-Balla Ofori-Adjei, President of the Ophthalmological Society of Ghana, emphasized the need for legislation to bridge the gap between the demand for corneal transplants and donor availability.

Credit: GNA