A five-day free eye surgical camp at Kakuma Sub-County Hospital has served 1,560 people and delivered 209 surgeries, including 186 cataract operations, in an initiative aimed at improving access to specialised eye care in Turkana County.
The camp was organised through a partnership between the County Government of Turkana and the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Of the 209 procedures performed, 186 were cataract operations. Ten patients underwent surgery for trachomatous trichiasis, a condition in which eyelashes turn inward and can damage the eye. Eight patients had conjunctival excisions, while four underwent solar corneal scraping procedures. Other procedures were also completed.
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Veronicah Etee, Assistant Sub-County Eye Coordinator, said the camp had demonstrated the high demand for eye treatment in the area, although the team did not reach its target of 240 surgeries.
“Every surgery we complete is someone who can walk, work and care for their family again,” Etee said.
“Our target was 240, and with 209 surgeries and over 1,500 people served, the high demand here is a call to action to bring these services closer to the people,” she added.
Turkana West Medical Officer of Health John Ngasike urged residents not to wait until their eyesight deteriorates significantly before seeking medical attention.
“Many of these conditions can be treated if they are caught early. I encourage residents, especially the elderly and anyone whose vision is declining, to visit their nearest health facility for screening,” Ngasike said.
Kakuma Sub-County Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Nick Mogaka said the camp demonstrated the facility’s capacity to deliver specialised services when supported by partnerships and adequate resources.
“Our theatre and clinical teams worked throughout the five days to make sure as many patients as possible were seen and operated on,” Mogaka said.
“Eye conditions are among the most common reasons people come to us, and partnerships like this one let us offer specialised services that would otherwise be out of reach for many,” he added.
Mogaka expressed optimism that the hospital’s fully equipped theatre would expand its services to include emergency Caesarean sections and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC), strengthening its capacity to handle urgent maternal and newborn health needs.
The camp comes amid longstanding challenges in accessing eye services in Kakuma.
A 2024 UNHCR thematic note reportedly documented the closure of an eye clinic in Kakuma due to funding constraints, with demand for consultations exceeding available services.
The resulting shortage meant some residents had to travel long distances to seek treatment, while others went without care.
The need for eye services extends beyond Kakuma. Figures cited by officials at an earlier eye camp in Loima placed the prevalence of avoidable blindness in Turkana at an estimated 6.2 per cent, compared with a national average of 2.8 per cent.
Officials have also cited a cataract surgical rate of approximately 900 in the county, against a World Health Organization-recommended minimum of 2,000. The reporting provided does not specify the measurement period or the units used for these figures.
Clinicians have identified dust, intense sunlight and ageing as factors associated with eye conditions in the region.
For 60-year-old Ekidor Ichukwel, from Komudei, the operation has brought a significant change to his daily life.
“Before the surgery, I depended on my family to move around and even to eat. Now I can see my children's faces again. I thank the doctors and everyone who made this camp possible,” he said.
His experience illustrates the effect that access to timely eye treatment can have on independence and family life.
The Kakuma camp follows a series of 11 eye care outreaches conducted across Turkana County in 2026, according to the information provided by county officials.
Earlier activities in Turkana South reached more than 400 people in Lokichar and Kalapata, while an outreach in Kainuk served more than 200 people and recorded 64 successful surgeries.
Other outreaches were conducted in Turkana East, including Lokori and Elelea, as well as in Katilu, Lokichar, Kainuk, Lokichogio and Turkana Central areas, including Kanamkemer, Kalokol and Namoruputh.
The latest camp highlights the importance of sustained partnerships and outreach programmes in bringing specialised healthcare closer to communities that face barriers to accessing treatment.
Health officials continue to encourage residents experiencing declining vision to seek screening early, as timely diagnosis and treatment can help prevent avoidable vision loss.
