Lodwar – 30th October 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

The County Department of Health and Sanitation, in conjunction with the Fred Hollows Foundation, has conducted 47 cataract surgeries aimed at improving vision of the elderly residents.

The cataract surgeries, conducted in the last three months, took place in Turkana West, Turkana Central and Turkana North Sub-Counties.

It was revealed that intensified health promotion through community mobilisation strategies contributed to reducing misinformation around cataract surgeries. This improved the health-seeking behaviour of patients.

Speaking at the meeting, County Ophthalmic Services Coordinator Samson Lokele reiterated that, interventions such as health promotion improved post-operative follow-ups and increased surgical camps.

“There is need to conduct post-operative follow-ups and post-operative medication to get visual acuity for successful surgeries,”he said.

Program Officer of Fred Hollows Foundation, Catherine Jakaiti, highlighted that they would provide support to surgical camps and allocate healthcare resources such as equipping all the eye clinics.

Present at the meeting were the County and Sub-county health management teams and Fred Hollows Foundation representatives.