HelpMeSee, the global not-for-profit organisation focused on eliminating cataract blindness and visual impairment, has opened a new simulation-based surgical training centre in Accra, Ghana, marking a significant expansion of its activities in Africa and a strategic investment in healthcare workforce development across West Africa.
The new centre, located at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, is equipped with the HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator, a high-fidelity training system designed to replicate the demands of real-world cataract surgery. The facility will provide specialised training in Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) for ophthalmology residents and experienced surgeons from Ghana and neighbouring countries.
Cataracts remain one of the leading causes of preventable blindness globally, with a disproportionate impact in low- and middle-income regions where access to trained surgeons is limited. MSICS is widely regarded as a cost-effective and highly scalable technique for cataract treatment, particularly suited to resource-constrained healthcare systems. According to HelpMeSee, a fully trained MSICS surgeon can perform up to 30,000 cataract operations over the course of a career, highlighting the long-term impact of investment in surgical education.
The Accra training centre forms part of HelpMeSee’s broader strategy to integrate simulation-based learning into ophthalmic education, reducing risks to patients while accelerating skills acquisition for surgeons. The organisation says the approach allows trainees to practise complex procedures repeatedly in a controlled environment before operating on patients.
“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.”
From a health systems perspective, the centre has been positioned as both a national and regional asset. Within Ghana, it is intended to strengthen the competency of the country’s ophthalmology workforce by supplementing traditional residency programmes with advanced simulation tools. At a regional level, the facility is expected to function as a centre of excellence for West Africa, encouraging cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange among eye care professionals.
HelpMeSee also views the Accra centre as a model for the wider adoption of simulation-based training across the African continent. By embedding this approach within existing teaching hospitals, the organisation aims to demonstrate how technology-led education can be aligned with local clinical pathways and workforce needs.
The launch has been supported by partnerships with other international eye health organisations. Among them is Cure Blindness Project, which recently supplied ophthalmic instruments to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as part of its collaboration with local and international partners.
“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.”
For HelpMeSee, the Ghana launch represents the latest addition to its growing global network of simulation-based training centres, which are designed to address what the organisation describes as a critical shortage of skilled cataract surgeons in regions with the highest disease burden. By focusing on education rather than direct service delivery alone, the not-for-profit aims to create sustainable, long-term improvements in eye care capacity.
The Accra centre also reflects a broader trend in global health investment, where funders and NGOs are increasingly prioritising training, technology transfer and institutional partnerships as a means of achieving scale and resilience. In the context of rising demand for eye care services driven by ageing populations, such approaches are seen as essential to maintaining productivity and reducing avoidable disability.
As the centre begins operations, HelpMeSee says it will work closely with Ghanaian health authorities, teaching staff and regional partners to ensure the programme aligns with national training standards and workforce planning objectives. The organisation believes the initiative brings it a step closer to its stated goal of making high-quality cataract surgery accessible to all, regardless of geography, while positioning Ghana as a regional hub for ophthalmic surgical education.
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