A total of 320 people have benefited from free eye care treatment during a 2-day medical camp at Iten outreach church in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The exercise was led by Dr. Ralph Dehaan and Dr. Patrick Mugo from Balm Africa and eye care partners’ PC.
Patients were issued with free spectacles and medication with one of the patients Michael Rotich, who had lived for years with eye complications saying that he is grateful because he has been able to see and read clearly after receiving treatment
Speaking during the medical camp, Agness Maiyo, the eye focal person in the county said that she’s lobbying for the establishment of clinics in the rural areas in order to bring eye care services closer to the residents.
She thanked the county government for equipping the county with human resource saying there are two consultants and adequate health personnel, who offer eye care services at Iten referral hospital, thus offering quality services to those suffering eye ailments.
Dr. Mugo said that they began to offer eye care services in the county in January last year saying their main aim was to provide medicine and glasses to the patients.
He however said they were not offering surgeries due to lack of time given that the camp was only being held for two days and instead they were referring patients in need of the services to the local doctors.
Dr. Mugo called upon any organization willing to help people with eye complications to chip in and assist the patients.
He said they are looking forward to help more people the next time they hold a camp in Iten saying they are looking for more partners.
Dr. Dehaan said he has been an integral part of eye care partners in Kenya since 1998 saying through the years he has found fulfilment in the number of patients he has been able to assist.
He said that his services don’t pay him a lot of money, but he derives lots of satisfaction seeing the number of people who get to see after receiving treatment.
By Alice Wanjiru and Joan Jelimo
