Eye surgeon couple from Mysuru Dr. K.V. Ravishankar and Dr. Uma Ravishankar recently concluded a week-long surgical mission providing specialised eye care services at Tamale Eye Hospital in Northern Ghana.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Eye surgeon couple from Mysuru Dr. K.V. Ravishankar and Dr. Uma Ravishankar recently concluded a week-long surgical mission providing specialised eye care services in Northern Ghana.
The surgical mission held between May 31, 2026 to June 8, 2026 at Tamale Eye Hospital in Tamale in Northern Ghana, where children and adults suffering from complex eye conditions received life-changing surgical treatment, highlighted the urgent need for paediatric eye care in Sub Saharan Africa.
The eye surgeon couple from Mysuru, who work with Usha Kiran Eye Hospital in the city, along with Dr. Milind Bhide from Hyderabad, performed a total of 40 major eye surgeries during the camp.
“The procedures included paediatric cataract surgeries, squint [strabismus] correction surgeries, eye plastic and reconstructive surgeries for children and adults, and other complex paediatric eye procedures. The team also conducted on-site training and skill-transfer sessions for local ophthalmologists”, said Dr. Ravishankar.
The surgical intervention brought renewed hope, improved vision, and brighter futures to many families across Northern Ghana and neighboring regions, he said.
According to the doctors, nearly 40% of the cases involved congenital, developmental, or traumatic cataracts, while another 40% were squint-related cases affecting children, adolescents, and adults. The remaining 20% comprised oculoplastic procedures such as ptosis correction, lacrimal surgeries, and probing procedures.
Highlighting the urgent need for paediatric eye care in Sub Saharan Africa, Dr. Ravishankar said an estimated 80,000 children require cataract surgery, apart from many other untreated eye conditions, in the region.
Speaking about the experience, Dr. Ravishankar said that every successful surgery represents “a child returning to school with confidence, a parent regaining hope, and a family receiving a second chance at a better quality of life.” The doctors have described the mission as challenging but deeply rewarding.
All the eye surgeons rendered their services pro bono, while the mission expenses were supported by several Rotary organizations and charitable foundations.
The major sponsors of the mission included The Rotary Foundation (USA), Rotary District 9104 (Ghana), Rotary Club of Accra Industrial, Rotary Club of Accra Premier International, Rotary E-Club of Bangalore, Rotary Club of Bangalore Abilities, Rotary Club of Ivory City Mysore, Evans Family Foundation (USA), Avoidable Blindness Foundation (Bangalore), Rotary Club of Guildford Wey (UK), Rotary Club of Christchurch (UK), Rotary Club of Naperville (USA), and Rotary Club of Whitby (Canada).
The doctors also expressed their gratitude to the Tamale Eye Hospital team led by Dr. Judith Simon.
Published – June 14, 2026 12:16 pm IST
