Narok: Children in Narok County are set to benefit from free eye screening, aimed at minimizing cases of vision impairment and avoidable blindness. The exercise is sponsored by Christian Blind Mission (CBM) and implemented by Tenwek Mission Hospital, with a target of reaching all children aged below 18 years within a period of five years.
According to Kenya News Agency, Narok County Director of Health, Dr. Francis Kiio, emphasized during the first County Eye Care Technical Task Force meeting that the taskforce will provide strategic leadership, technical guidance, and coordination for eye care initiatives. The program aligns with the county's commitment to enhancing primary healthcare and achieving equitable access to quality eye healthcare services.
Dr. Kiio, who chaired the meeting, noted that 80 percent of blindness is preventable if early screening is conducted since some conditions that cause blindness can be easily managed if detected early. The exercise will start with a pilot program at five locations in Narok West and Narok South Sub-counties, targeting 5,407 children, before expanding to the entire county.
He highlighted that vision impairment and avoidable blindness continue to pose significant public healthcare challenges, particularly in underserved communities, and stressed the need to strengthen eye care in the county. The meeting, held at the County Director of Health office at the County Referral Hospital, included officers from the Public Health department, County Ophthalmologist, County Nursing Officer, County health records officer, County Pharmacist, and officials from the department of water and education, as well as representatives from Tenwek Mission Hospital and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the county.
Narok Director of Public Health, Edward Tinkoi, underscored the need to involve all health stakeholders to achieve the target of reaching all children in the county. He emphasized that Community Health Partners (CHPs) should be trained in primary eye care to advise caregivers in the villages.
Raymond Ngeno from Tenwek Hospital stated that the screening will be free of charge, and children found with complications will be referred to the County referral hospital and Tenwek hospital for treatment. He advised parents to ensure their children are registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA) for smooth treatment in case of major complications.