Reprieve As Hundreds Of Tharaka Nithi Residents’ Sight Restored Through Surgery
Medics conducting eye screening of Tharaka Nithi County residents. Hundreds of the county residents have regained sight following successful surgeries. Photo/Mwenda Njeru
By Mwenda Njeru
Tharaka Nithi County Government has scaled up the fight against cataracts, the major cause of blindness among people aged 50 years and above.
Cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens which lies behind the iris and the pupil causing blurred vision or total blindness if not treated.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), out of one million people in developing countries like Kenya, 3000 suffer from eye cataracts compared to 2000 people out of one million in developed countries.
In collaboration with the Fred Hollows Foundation from Australia and the County Department of Medical Services and ICT is going on with a six-month eye treatment programme across the 15 wards.
The team is conducting free eye treatment medical camps in the villages and hundreds of patients have got their sight restored through surgery to remove the cataract.
The county government led by Governor Muthomi Njuki resolved to conduct the medical camps after noting that many people in the remote areas lack access to quality eye care services due to financial challenges.
By taking the critical services to the villages, the devolved government has ensured that every county resident has an opportunity to medical care.
“The impact of this initiative is not just restoring sight but also enabling the persons to continue with their normal ways of life,” said Mr Karani Riungu, Chief Officer, Medical Services and ICT in the county government.
He appealed to those with eye problems to seek treatment and not to fear losing sight completely after the operation noting that almost all those who have undergone surgery for cataracts have improved sight.
In 2022, the county government also conducted a similar exercise and achieved a target of 1500 out of the county’s average population of 500,000.
The Community Health Promoters (CHPs) who are in every village are helping identify people with eye problems and advise them to go for screening at the camps or nearest hospitals.
Some young children are born with congenital cataracts; a condition the lens of the eye is cloudy instead of it being clear at birth.
The other common causes of blindness include trachoma, diabetes, glaucoma, and age-related degeneration.
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