Nakuru County has marked a major milestone in specialized healthcare with the launch of an Optical Laboratory localized, in-house spectacle production services at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH).
The facility makes NCRTH the second public health institution in Kenya, after Kenyatta National Hospital, to offer localized, in-house spectacle production services.
The laboratory was established through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Nakuru County Government under the ATscale Kenya Project, among other stakeholders.
The state-of-the-art laboratory is set to transform eye care for County residents and those from neighbouring counties and is expected to drastically lower costs and eliminate lengthy waiting times for prescription glasses.
In her remarks, County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Roselyn Mungai indicated that the facility reflects the County Government’s commitment to strengthening specialized healthcare services and ensuring that no resident is left behind due to preventable visual impairment.
The new laboratory has a production capacity of up to 500 optical jobs per day. It covers the entire production lifecycle, including lens cutting, edging, glazing, fitting and dispensing, and is fully operational under a team of five specialized optical technicians.
Speaking during the launch, the Hospital Director, Mr. Santosh Devaraj, described the facility as a game changer for eye care services in Nakuru and the wider region, noting that it will significantly improve access to affordable, quality spectacles while strengthening the hospital’s capacity to provide specialized eye care services closer to the people.
He noted that many patients and particularly school-going children, older persons and individuals living with visual impairment, face countless challenges in accessing prescription spectacles due to financial and time constraints.
The new facility is expected to provide affordable, quality eyewear within the public healthcare system, thereby easing the burden of optical care for the vulnerable in society.
Ms. Mungai, who represented Governor Susan Kihika, noted that the development had further strengthened Nakuru County’s position as a regional centre of excellence in healthcare and further advanced its commitment to Universal Health Coverage through investment in specialized services.
Ophthalmic care is one of the critical health services that has not received the attention it deserves over the years. However, the County Government is committed to strengthening eye care services as part of the broader agenda to improve healthcare outcomes across the county.
Other notable eye problems in the region include age-related cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and seasonal conjunctivitis/allergies.
Ms. Mungai added that as a leading provider of healthcare services in the region, the County will continue investing in eye health to meet global targets.
She added that eye health was not just a medical issue but was a major contributor to education outcomes, work productivity, road safety and the country’s economic resilience; hence, the importance of integrating it into the broader health system to achieve universal health coverage.
The project was implemented with support from the Ministry of Health, ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation (OSELF).
By Jane Ngugi
