209 patients with optical related ailments, had their sights restored during five-day free eye surgical camp, held at Kakuma Sub-county Hospital.
The free eye clinic camp in collaboration with the County Government of Turkana and The Fred Hollows Foundation, attracted at least 1,560 patients
Of the 209 procedures, 186 were cataract operations. Ten patients had trachoma trichiasis surgery to correct painful, scarring eyelashes that turn inward. Eight had conjunctival excisions, four had solar corneal scrapings, and one other procedure was completed.
“Every surgery we complete is someone who can walk, work and care for their family again,” said Veronicah Etee, Assistant Sub-county Eye Coordinator.
“Our target was 240, and with 209 surgeries and over 1,500 people served, the high demand here is a call to action to bring these services closer to the people.”
Turkana West Medical Officer of Health John Ngasike praised the partnership and urged residents not to wait until they lose their sight.
“Many of these conditions can be treated if they are caught early. I encourage residents, especially the elderly and anyone whose vision is declining, to visit their nearest health facility for screening.”
The Hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr. Nick Mogaka, said the Camp showed what the facility can deliver with the right support.
“Our theatre and clinical teams worked throughout the five days to make sure as many patients as possible were seen and operated on. Eye conditions are among the most common reasons people come to us, and partnerships like this one let us offer specialised services that would otherwise be out of reach for many,” he said.
He also expressed optimism that the fully equipped theatre would soon expand its services to include other essential procedures, such as emergency Caesarean sections (CS) and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC), strengthening the hospital’s capacity. The camp matters because Kakuma has had few options.
A 2024 UNHCR thematic note reported that an eye clinic in Kakuma had closed because of funding constraints, with demand for eye consultations outpacing supply. For the over 500,000 residents [confirm figure and source], treatment meant travelling long distances or going without.
The need is high across Turkana. At an earlier camp in Loima, the lead cataract surgeon said the County has an estimated 6.2 percent prevalence of avoidable blindness, compared with the national average of 2.8 percent.
Officials also say the County’s cataract surgical rate is about 900 per million people a year against the WHO-recommended minimum of 2,000. Clinicians cite dust, harsh sun and ageing as drivers of eye disease.
For Ekidor Ichukwel, a 60-year-old man from Komudei, the change is immediate. “Before the surgery, I depended on my family to move around and even to eat. Now I can see my children’s faces again. I thank the doctors and everyone who made this camp possible.”
The Kakuma camp follows a series of 11 outreaches across the county in 2026.
Earlier camps reached over 400 people in Lokichar and Kalapata, in Turkana South; over 200 in Kainuk, with 64 successful surgeries [confirm this figure belongs to Kainuk]; and over 500 in Turkana East (Lokori and Elelea). Others were held in Katilu, Lokichogio, Kanamkemer, Kalokol and Namoruputh.
by Peter Gitonga
