Over 400 eye patients have benefitted from free cataract surgeries provided by the County and the Fred Hollows Foundation, as part of an initiative to eradicate preventable blindness.

The surgeries, conducted across Turkana in the East, North, Central, Loima, and South sub-counties, also identified another 473 eye patients eligible for the program.

County Ophthalmic Services Coordinator Samson Lokele stated that the numbers were achieved through intensified screening during integrated medical outreaches and surgical camps on eye care services.

According to Lokele, the 473 identified patients are distributed as follows: Turkana East 62, Turkana North 75, Turkana Central 191, Loima 37, Turkana West and Kibish 108.

The report of the successful surgeries, interventions to be undertaken, and milestones achieved was issued during a stakeholder’s meeting that brought together sub-county eye care services coordinators and members of the County Health Management Team (CHMT).

Fred Hollows Foundation program officer Rose Gichengo mentioned that the organization would support a strategic partners conference to mobilize resources and bridge the financing gap.

County Head of Rehabilitative Services Concepta Longole called for the inclusion of persons with disabilities among the targeted beneficiaries.

“Improving access to assistive devices for persons living with disabilities may also prevent further deterioration to total blindness,” Concepta Longole stated.

Adding his voice to the report, Turkana North Eye Care Services Coordinator Ferian Achiya revealed that advocacy to boost the uptake of services had been conducted through IEC materials, public address sensitization, and continuous medical education by health workers during hospital visits.