Community Health Assistants and volunteers in Kiambu County are undergoing a five-day eye health training in preventing and managing glaucoma, as the world marks world glaucoma week.
This year’s World Glaucoma Week takes place from March 12-18, an initiative that puts a spotlight on glaucoma, as the leading cause of preventable irreversible blindness worldwide.
The training, which is being conducted by the County Department of Health in partnership with Christian Blind Mission (CBM) and PCEA Kikuyu Hospital, aims to equip the health workers with knowledge on the use of Peek, a smartphone-based app that helps detect and manage eye diseases.
According to Teresiah Kariuki the County Director, Public Health, Community Health Assistants and volunteers, play crucial role in the provision of healthcare services, at the grassroots level.
“The CHAs and CHVs are the link between communities and health facilities, providing essential services such as health education, disease prevention, and basic treatment,” Kariuki said.
She added that the app. is easy to use and requires minimal training, making it an ideal tool for community health workers who may not have extensive medical training.
“Peek, which stands for Portable Eye Examination Kit, is an innovative tool that uses a smartphone camera and app to detect eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy,” she said
KNA spoke to Dr Elvis Saitoti, an ophthalmologist at the Kenyatta National Hospital, who said that early detection and treatment is the ideal method to avoid glaucoma-related blindness.
“Glaucoma also called the ‘silent thief of vision’ as initially, a patient may not have any symptoms, hence the importance of getting your eyes checked regularly, and if diagnosed, follow the treatment given by your eye doctor, because if not treated, glaucoma can lead to blindness,” said Dr Saitoti
He, however, cited that some forms of glaucoma are associated with mild eye pain, headaches, and rainbow-colored circles around lights.
“Treatment for glaucoma may involve medications, laser therapy, or surgery” the doctor said
62-year-old Grace Njambi was diagnosed with a glaucoma and cataract in 2021 at PCEA Kikuyu hospital when she visited the hospital for having a headache, eye pain and a blurry vision.
“After several eye test the doctor prescribed medicated eye drops which I have since been managing my condition which has really improved” she said
Glaucoma is believed to be the cause of blindness in 4.5 million individuals, according to the WHO.
By Grace Naishoo
