World Sight Day marked its twenty-fourth year since its establishment in 2000, with this year's theme focusing on "Eye Care for Children." The initiative intends to create awareness about the critical importance of regular eye check-ups for children. The event, graced by the Chief Executive Committee Member for Health, Dr. Martin Konyango at Boro Catholic Church, provided a vital platform to highlight the efforts of the Nyalore Government in collaboration with the Fred Hollows Foundation. The CECM indicated that they are working to make eye care services accessible to a broader population, even as many still face challenges in accessing these essential services globally.
Statistics reveal that one in five children requires eye care services. In Siaya County, the Nyalore Government has established eye clinics in each sub-county, bringing these services closer to the community, an initiative that is a crucial step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of good health and well-being, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to thrive. Every child in Kenya deserves a clear, healthy vision and equitable access to eye care services. Such access is vital for their development and future productivity as members of society, and the Nyalore Government advocates for regular eye check-ups to facilitate early detection of visual problems, provide support for clear vision, and prevent permanent vision loss.
K’Onyango said “Siaya as a County with assistance of Australian Aid from Fred Hollows Foundation has made a significant contribution by improving access to eye health. Through partnership, we have opened eye clinics in the Ambira, Ukwala, Madiany, Bondo, and Yala, and the quality of eye care services has put Siaya among the leading counties. “The facilities have quality eye care equipment and trained eye care staffs, who can diagnose, treat, and perform surgeries, including but not limited to cataracts,” stated Dr. K’Onyango.
In his address, Dr. K'Onyango urged the community to avoid relying on herbalists, who often prioritize profit over genuine care. He emphasized that many eye problems can be effectively treated at our hospitals at very subsidized costs. "We normally have outreaches where we come to the community with our staff and equipment for eye check-ups and treatment hoping we prevent avoidable blindness. When you see us in the community, kindly come for an eye check-up," he remarked.
Many beneficiaries have appreciated the County Government of Siaya and its partners for the initiative, noting that though they were badly in need of spectacles for a long time, they could not afford to obtain a pair privately. Josephine Osoro, one of the beneficiaries said it feels good to see clearly. “I could not read phone messages. The moment I receive the free spectacle, can easily read messages. have regained vision,” said Osoro. Another resident, Florence Akinyi was elated that she could see perfectly using the glasses. Dr. K’Onyango says it warms my heart when I hear that health initiatives, we roll out at the grassroots are transforming lives. ““When an elderly person tells me that they are seeing clearly for the first time, or people say they have never been able to afford spectacles and it prevents them from functioning optimally and now they can actually participate more fulsomely – it really warms my heart,” said K’Onyango.
Collins Denice Oduor, Nyanza representative of Essilorluxottica Foundation – ONESIGHT, indicated that they have donated spectacles that improve visions. “We have today donated 250 spectacles that have benefitted Boro resident’s majority being the old,” said Oduor. According to eye sight services officer at Siaya County Referral Hospital, Eric Omondi Omollo, they seek to tackle eye sight problems among the children as this year’s theme dictates. “There are enormous eye sight problems affecting our children to an extent of dropping our of school,” said Omollo adding that on several occasions, they have given priority to adults and on this year’s World Sight Day, the theme demands of them to give children attention. “Every spectacle at hospitals goes at KES 6,000 and this is costly to some of the residents so SHA is the only remedy to such cases,” added Omollo.