Seeing is Believing for Accra locals
Ian Rush has taken time out of his coaching duties in Ghana to present an eye clinic with equipment which could help transform lives.
Rush and officials from Standard Chartered visited the Amasaman Hospital in the suburbs of Accra to deliver surgical eye equipment as part of our main sponsor's Seeing is Believing project - a global initative which aims to tackle avoidable blindness.
"It's an incredible experience to visit places like this and see for yourself the incredible work which is being carried out in difficult circumstances in the local community," said Rush.
"I remember when we were in Kenya a couple of years ago and we went to a local hospital there to watch an eye operation. The young boy was only about eight years of age and he was very nervous beforehand. His dad and the hospital staff were telling him that after the operation he'd be able to see again. The following day when he took the bandage off he could see clearly and his life had been changed forever. I'll never forget the smile and the look of joy on his face. It was an amazing moment and I had no idea what sort of impact that day would have on me.
"To come to this hospital and perhaps help make a contribution towards other people feeling the benefits of the Seeing is Believing project is amazing."
Dr Boateng Waife was on hand to accept the equipment on behalf of the hospital and he insists the partnership between Liverpool FC and Standard Chartered will have a profound effect on the lives of the people in this part of west Africa.
"My definition of a partnership is when both sides rely on each other so both can win," he said. "The partnership between Liverpool and Standard Chartered is going to help people in our community - it will help some people to see again.
"We want to remove the barrier to quality eye care and having this new equipment in this hospital will ensure many more people are now able to get the diagnosis and the treatment they need.
"At the moment people have to travel too far - and often aren't able to do it - to receive the care they need. That's why this is so important. What Liverpool and Standard Chartered have done will transform peoples lives which is an incredible thing to be able to do."
Rush was given a tour of the hospital before presenting the new equipment to the staff.
"There are many things back home which we just take for granted," he added. "Travelling the world with Liverpool has really opened my eyes to the difficulties some communities are dealing with every day and to be able to make a difference is fantastic.
"We are a family club, we're a friendly club, we're a community club and we want to help where we can. It's easy to say you're going to do something, but at Liverpool and with Standard Chartered, we actually get out there and look to help people.
"We want to do our bit to improve communities where we can. Obviously we can't be everywhere, but today I hope we have made a difference to the people in this community. We delivered items which we just take for granted back home, but it's just not readily available here."