Visually impaired student Eliza Afia Martey has revealed that after six medical operations, her eyesight went from bad to worse. She mentioned that initially, she was partially blind. However, after the surgeries, she became blind totally.
Speaking on SVTV Africa with DJ Nyaami, the level 300 Legon student indicated that she was partially blind at age six. According to her, it started as mere eye trouble. She visited the eye clinic for treatment. However, it got worse.
“At age six, I was partially blind, but that was when I had the surgeries. My eyesight began to go down, but I could see a little. It started with the right eye. I could cross and road and do everything by myself. Eventually, I became completely blind at 13 years.
My father wanted to take me out of school, but he changed his mind about it. I enrolled into Akropong for the Blind,’ she disclosed.
Eliza added that her challenge as a blind person is that most drivers disregard them and think all pedestrians can see.
“I am pleading with the drivers to be extra careful on the road. Blind people also cross the road. Sometimes they assume that all pedestrians can see. Hence, they will run off the road. But it is not so. Those of us who are blind will walk off, so please be careful. Some of the drivers do not respect the white cane. There are signs around campus, but some drive carelessly. ” she cautioned.
“Even though we are blind are also humans. We can do everything you can do. People think we are a burden just because we can’t see. I can cook very well. I can wash. I can dress. Sometimes all we need is someone who can direct and oversee what we are doing. Please approach us when you meet us,” the student said.
She also encouraged parents with disabled children to be hopeful ‘because if they are blind, it does not mean they are useless.’
Eliza is a student of the University of Ghana, Legon studying Social Work and Education. She is an alumnus of Okuapeman School. She hopes to further her education after her first degree.
Kindly watch the full interview below;
