World Sight Day is an annual global event celebrated every 10th of October to raise awareness of vision impairment and blindness.
In Narok County, it took place at Talek Community Health Hospital, where numerous residents volunteered for free eye treatment.
The event, under the theme ‘Love your eyes’, featured a range of activities including free cataract surgeries, eye screening, and treatment for community members with visual challenge, as well as awareness creation and advocacy on eye health at the community level.
Narok County Eye Care Coordinator David Lekuye called on all residents to take action to prioritize their eye health, emphasising that the county government is collaborating with non-state actors to strengthen eye health services aimed at reducing preventable blindness and improving access to quality and affordable eye care for all.
The event, supported by the Ministry of Health and Operation Eyesight Universal, targeted all members of the society.
This comes at a time when Christian Blind Mission (CBM), through the Tenwek Mission Hospital is targeting to offer free eye screening services to all children in the county, with the aim of minimising cases of vision impairment and avoidable blindness.
Moreover, the programme will align with the county’s commitment to enhancing primary healthcare and achieving equitable access to quality eye healthcare services.
“Vision impairment and avoidable blindness continue to pose significant public healthcare challenges, particularly in underserved communities, hence the need to strengthen eye care in the county,” said Narok County Director of Health, Dr Francis Kiio.
By Ann Salaton
