The Embu Level Five Hospital eye care unit has benefited from a donation of equipment worth Sh13.6 million from a leading organization in disability inclusive development, Christian Blind Mission (CBM).
An additional consignment of equipment worth Sh10, 000 is expected to arrive next week. The ophthalmic equipment includes eye testing tools and machines, reading and eye-glasses as well as assorted surgical instrument.
The donation comes as a relief to the provision of eye care services at a time when over half of the County population was suffering various forms of eye disorders according to Governor Cecily Mbarire.
Speaking while receiving the equipment at the facility, Mbarire said this was an indicator that the county needs to put more effort on eye health to avert avoidable blindness.
“It is in times like this, more than ever, that we should collectively raise concerns and demands for more proactive action to reverse the trend,” Mbarire said.
She said going forward, the county targets to screen 268, 645 members of the community which represents 60 percent of the population and 128, 699 of the school going population equivalent to 80 percent of all students.
The Governor said this would involve various interventions including treatment outreaches and provision of over 3, 342 free spectacles to the community and schools.
“I request the people of Embu County to come out and enjoy these improved services,” she appealed, adding that they were also targeting to train at least 20 eye care workers in various fields within eye health to enhance service delivery.
The County boss encouraged all individuals and households to register with NHIF to promote her administration’s health agenda of providing accessible, affordable and quality care.
CBM National Programme Coordinator Kennedy Odero said the equipment is meant to strengthen the eye referral system right from the community to tertiary level.
“We want to bring eye services closer to the people to ensure prompt services to patients and avoid complications that may arise due to lack of timely care,” Odero said.
By Samuel Waititu
