HelpMeSee Expands West African Footprint with Ghana Simulation Training Center

Event summary

  • HelpMeSee opened a new simulation-based training center at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana on February 11, 2026.
  • The center focuses on Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) training for Ghana and neighboring West African nations.
  • A fully trained MSICS surgeon can perform up to 30,000 surgeries in their career.
  • The center serves as a national training hub, regional center of excellence, and model for integrating simulation-based training into ophthalmic residency programs in Africa.

The big picture

HelpMeSee's expansion into Ghana underscores the growing need for specialized ophthalmic training in underserved regions. With over 100 million people blind or visually impaired due to cataracts globally, the organization's simulation-based approach aims to address critical workforce gaps. The Accra center is part of a broader network of 15 training centers worldwide, reflecting a strategic push to decentralize high-quality eye care education.

What we're watching

Regional Impact
How the Accra center will affect cataract surgery training capacity across West Africa.
Scalability
Whether HelpMeSee can sustain this expansion model across other African regions.
Partnership Dynamics
The pace at which Cure Blindness Project and other partners will enable similar initiatives.