More than 300 patients have received specialised eye care services following the conclusion of a five-day free medical camp at Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH).
The camp was organised as part of Turkana County Government’s efforts to improve access to eye care, increase early detection and treatment of eye conditions, and raise the county’s cataract surgical rate.
Services provided during the camp included eye examinations, diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions, cataract surgeries, provision of corrective reading glasses and health education.
The outreach services were also extended to remote areas of Kapua and Kolokol, where residents were screened and assessed before those requiring additional treatment were referred for further care.
Ophthalmic Nurse Martha Asinyen Locham said more than 50 cataract surgeries had been performed during the camp, while about 30 patients were prescribed reading glasses.
The camp mainly targeted elderly residents living with cataracts. Health officials had initially set a target of performing 100 cataract surgeries during the five-day exercise.
However, Locham said the number of residents who turned up for the free services was lower than expected despite the availability of the specialised treatment at no cost.
County Deputy Eye Coordinator Veronica Etee said the initiative was part of the county’s wider efforts to improve access to specialised eye services and increase the number of cataract surgeries being performed.
“Turkana’s cataract surgical rate stands at approximately 900, against the WHO recommendation of at least 2,000 annually,” Etee said.
She added that cataract surgery remains one of the areas the county is prioritising as it seeks to improve access to specialised eye care.
Cataracts are a major cause of vision impairment and can affect a person’s ability to perform everyday activities, particularly among older people. Early assessment can help identify patients who may benefit from treatment or surgery.
The medical camp was implemented by the Turkana County Government through Lodwar County Referral Hospital in partnership with Lighthouse People from Mombasa and Christian Success International from Meru.
Locham said adequate medical supplies were available throughout the exercise.
Patients who underwent cataract surgery will return to the hospital for follow-up reviews after two weeks to assess their recovery and identify or manage any complications.
Health officials urged residents, particularly older people and those experiencing declining vision, to seek medical attention rather than delaying treatment.
Locham encouraged residents with eye problems to attend health facilities early, saying timely assessment and treatment can help prevent avoidable visual impairment and improve patients’ quality of life.
The county government says continued eye care outreach will be important in reaching residents in remote areas and improving access to specialised services for people who may face difficulties travelling to referral facilities.
