Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi has assured Kilifi residents that the county is committed to addressing eye problems and reach to the vulnerable within the society. – By Ramadhan Kambi
Speaking when he official received eye medical equipment from The Fred Hollows Foundation, valued at Sh6 million, Eng Saburi said the county is aware of many eye problems faced by the community but vowed to make sure that such services are available in health facilities around the county.
“Eye problems remain a challenge in Kilifi and the county has been looking for various ways to equip our facilities with such equipment. So your donation at this moment is timely and it will go a long way in addressing the same, we are thankful for this,” said the Deputy Governor.
The International development organization donated ophthalmic medical equipment to the Kilifi Referral Hospital eye clinic, to improve eye health services within Kilifi County.
The donated items included operating Microscope, A-Scan, Autorefractor with Keratometer, Equipment Steriliser (Eschmann), Cataract Sets, Lid Sets, Glaucoma Sets, Cautery (Electric), Slit lamp, Direct ophthalmoscope – rechargeable, Trial sets, Indirect Ophthalmoscope (with +20D lens) and Retinoscope.
Limited Equipment
County health executive Charles Karisa Dadu also thanked the organization and said that the donation will benefit many residents with eye problems.
“We have been getting these eye problem challenges and because of our limited equipment, that has been a challenge but now with these new and modern equipment, then we shall be able to serve a big number of patients within a short time,” he said.
The Fred Hollows Kenya Country Manager Jane Ohuma said a lack of eye health financing, poorly equipped hospitals, low awareness about preventable or treatable causes of blindness, poor referral pathways, coupled with barriers to eye health uptake including the distance to eye health services and extreme poverty, especially among women, contribute to the level of blindness.
“This equipment we are donating to Kilifi County will make a significant difference in ensuring some of the most vulnerable people can receive eye health care at their local health services,” she said.
The Fred hollows Foundation and the Latter-day Saint Charities aim to address the high levels of cataract blindness and other blinding eye health conditions in Kilifi county in Kenya by providing surgical equipment to county hospitals.
Apart from the equipment, the partnership aims to improve on service provision by ensuring eye health services is made available through all the sub-county facilities
improving on HReH (Training of medical teams), general infrastructural development, improvement of community awareness for improved uptake of eye health services etc.
This is part of a 5-year partnership with the county
