Namoruputh – April 15, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

The County Government, in partnership with Fred Hollows Foundation, has successfully concluded a four-day eye medical camp at Namoruputh PAG Health Centre, restoring sight and hope to over 50 patients.

The outreach recorded a total of 56 successful cataract surgeries, with more than 200 patients drawn from Loima and Lokiriama sub-counties, and beyond receiving a range of eye care services.

“We have recorded a total of 56 successful cataract surgeries, with hundreds receiving additional eye services including counselling and eye health hygiene awareness,” said Aaron Apalotom, the Sub-County Eye Coordinator.

Speaking during the exercise, Haron Apalotom, the Loima Sub-County Eye-Care Coordinator noted that the establishment of the theatre, coupled with the facility’s strategic location, was key to reaching underserved and unreached populations.

The Lead Senior Cataract Surgeon, William Kemei highlighted that Turkana continues to face a high burden of eye disease, with an estimated 6.2% prevalence of avoidable blindness, compared to the national average of 2.8%.

“Key contributing factors include a high burden of untreated cataract, the vastness of the county, limited resources, low awareness, and weak coverage, leaving simple conditions like refractive errors uncorrected,” he said.

Lokiriama Sub-County Medical Officer of Health, Lowoto Lokuruka, emphasised that the County has put in place deliberate strategies to reduce blindness. These include decentralising services through outreach programmes and establishing surgical theatres across sub-county facilities.

“Loima and Lokiriama are among the eight planned eye surgical camps this quarter under the County Government’s collaboration with the Fred Hollows Foundation,” he said.

The impact of the outreach extended beyond the targeted areas, attracting patients from distant locations including Koswat along the Turkana–West Pokot border, Lotere near the Kenya–Uganda border, and Kataboi in Turkana North.

Lomuton Elamach, a resident of Kataboi who had lost vision in one eye and had limited sight in the other, said the intervention has transformed his daily life.

“When I came, I could only see one side of the road. My vision was narrow and limited, and I struggled to look after my livestock. I am glad that my vision is restored, and now everything is wide and clear,” he said.

For Lokong’ Aaleri, a pastoralist from Lotere who had been completely blind for nearly a year, the journey to care was long and difficult. He traveled for three days from Uganda, where he had taken his livestock for pasture, accompanied by a friend who guided him.

“We heard about the planned outreach and trekked for three days to Lorengikipi, where the outreach vehicle picked us to the camp. When my sight was restored, I could finally see people, livestock, and the hills around me. I did not know where I was when I arrived, but after the surgery, I could see the Namoruputh hills clearly,” he said.

The medical camp was held shortly after the launch of a fully equipped theatre at the facility by the County Government, with support from ERDO and the PAG Church, marking a significant step in expanding access to specialised care in hard-to-reach areas.