At least 500 residents of Narok County have benefited from a two-day free eye clinic offered by the Lions Eye Hospital in collaboration with the Maasai Mara University and the Kenya Red Cross Society.
The exercise that took place at the Ole Ntimama stadium saw patients undergo checkups on their High Blood Pressure and diabetes.
Maasai Mara University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof. Godrick Bulitia, who presided over the official opening of the medical camp said the outreach program by the university was set to strengthen its relations with the larger Maa Community through engagements in various sectors, community health programs being among them.
“At Maasai Mara University, just like any other institution of higher learning, we are involved in teaching, research, innovation, consultancy, and outreach services. The outreach services, which are technically not done within the university is supposed to have its ripple effect in the community we serve, and that is the community we are engaging today”, he said.
The Maa community and its rich culture, he added, make one of the pillars of our institution and we strive as a university to make sure it is recognized and appreciated in Kenya and even globally
Prof. Bulitia, also thanked the county government which was represented by County Executive Committee Member in charge of Education, Sports, Youth Affairs, Gender, culture and Social Services Robert Simotwo.
“We appreciate the county government for creating a conducive environment and showing the willingness to partner with us so that we can have this engagement with the community without interruptions,” Prof. Bulitia reiterated.
He also asked the county government and partners like Lions Eye Hospital and The Redcross, to extend their support to the program to benefit other Maa communities in Kajiado, Samburu, Baringo, and Laikipia Counties
“We also appreciate members of the community who came out today for eye checkups, and we assure them that they will get above-board services offered by our best doctors in the eye sector,” he said.
Speaking to KNA, Mrs. Jackline Nawika, a Public Health Nurse and Chairperson of the Health Sciences Department at Maasai Mara University, said that the institution through community outreach programs in partnership with other stakeholders is set to meet its objectives in line with Kenya Vision 2030 goal of promoting health within the community.
“We are working closely with Narok County Government and the private sector who are the custodians of the public’s health records, statistics, and data which will help us identify our next move in offering these services to the residents in Narok County and beyond,” Nawika said.
An Ophthalmologist at Lions Eye Hospital Dr. Hillary Langat said that the program will help the community get early diagnosis of eye problems which makes it easier during the early stages.
“We have seen a lot of patients with various cases ranging from cataracts, refractive errors (long-sightedness and short-sightedness), presbyopia which is common among elderly persons, and trachoma, which is common in pastoralist communities. The patients are lucky to get an early diagnosis for treatment to save their sight,” Dr. Langat said.
Red eye disease, he said, is also a condition we are diagnosing after reports from the coastal region indicate that the disease is gradually spreading.
Dr. Langat went ahead to thank the county government for its efforts to eradicate trachoma among the residents of Narok County who are mostly pastoralists.
Retired Full Gospel Bishop George Kambo, a resident of Narok town and a beneficiary of the program, thanked the conveners of the medical camp for reaching out to the locals.
“I thank everyone who planned this event. The experts have directed me on the next step to take to make sure my eyes are in good condition,” Kambo said.
By Ann Salaton and Timothy Tobiko
