Over 500 residents of Kaani village in Kathiani sub county, Machakos County received free eye treatment during a one-day medical camp sponsored by the Israel Embassy and Lions Sight First Eye Hospital Monday.
The Vice Chairman of the Lions Hospital Manud Shah while speaking at Kaani Primary School where the camp was running said they met their target to screen 500 patients from the local community who have eye problems and other ailments.
Shah said that the hospital in partnership with the Israel Embassy screened children with congenital conditions and also elderly persons who have medical and hearing problems, adding that the whole exercise cost more than Sh500,000 million.
The vice chairman affirmed that they had a team of experienced medics from the hospital’s headquarters in Nairobi, including a Diabetes specialist, ENT surgeon, eye doctor and a general physician for children with special disorders.
He said of the patients seen 12 among them will require cataract surgeries failure to which they become clinically blind.
“Each cataract surgery in Nairobi costs between Sh40, 000 to Sh60,000, but we have promised all the 12 patients that we will carry out the surgery free of charge,” he assured.
Shah further said they had identified three children with severe deformities in their eyes, who will also require specialized services, and who will also be treated free of charge at the main hospital in Nairobi and be transported back to Kathiani after successful treatment.
Shah further explained that they have been supporting residents of Kaani village in Kathiani for over the last 25 years.
Meanwhile, apart from offering medical services, the hospital saw another big need for the community in terms of education and they started the Kaani Lions Girls School which has modern dormitories, science lab and dining hall.
Shah further said they will be completing drilling a borehole in Kaani in the next two weeks, which is expected to produce 2000 litres of water per minute, to solve the resident’s water problem.
The vice chairman was flanked by Devra Dormans from Israel’s Embassy, the County Deputy Governor Eng. Francis Maliti and a host of medics from the Lions Eye Hospital.
By Ann Kangero
