The Bomet County Department of Health, in collaboration with AGC Tenwek Hospital, has embarked on enhancing healthcare accessibility and awareness in the region.
The Department of Health has already conducted a specialised training programme for Community Health Assistants (CHAs) to help reach many needy cases.
The initiative is aimed at equipping the CHAs with essential skills to identify various eye ailments among residents.
The training that started in Chepalungu sub-county, focuses on utilising mobile phones configured with specialised software for the identification of eye conditions during house-to-house screenings by the CHAs.
According to a statement released by the Department of Health Services, the programme is part of a broader strategy to improve eye health across the county.
‘The programme is to be implemented in Chepalungu and has two phases,’ reads part of the department.
‘Initially, CHAs will conduct household-level eye screenings using mobile technology. Subsequently, community outreach
efforts will be undertaken to support individuals identified with eye conditions and refer them to appropriate healthcare facilities such as Longisa County Referral Hospital and AGC Tenwek Hospital,’ the statement further read.
‘Healthcare facilities in Bomet have been able to train on ophthalmic skills upgrading courses, low vision, cataract surgeons, and contact lens fitting,’ remarked Leonard Langat, the Program Manager.
‘The implementation will be based on community health units,’ he added.
Through the deployment of trained CHAs equipped with mobile technology, the initiative aims to mitigate the impact of eye ailments and promote better health within the community.
The programme, if implemented, will address the blindness prevalence rate and enhance health awareness levels throughout the County.
Source: Kenya News Agency