Today, Governor James Orengo hosted Mr. Ross Piper, Global CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation, in his office.
The Fred Hollows Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1992 by renowned eye surgeon Fred Hollows, is dedicated to eliminating avoidable blindness and improving eye health. The Foundation focuses on preventable and treatable eye conditions such as cataracts, trachoma, and diabetic retinopathy, serving Indigenous Australians and communities across more than 25 countries in Africa, South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific.
Since establishing its presence in Kenya in 2004, the Foundation has partnered with 22 counties, including Siaya, to integrate eye health into broader healthcare systems. These partnerships support screenings, treatments, and training to ensure sustainable eye care delivery.
Mr. Piper expressed gratitude for the strong partnership with the County Government of Siaya, which has supported eye surgeries and training, including collaboration with Community Ophthalmic Dispensaries (CODs). During the meeting, Mr. Piper announced plans to launch a five-year partnership with the County Government of Siaya, set to be officially unveiled in August 2025.
While commending the remarkable partnership between the Nyalore Administration and the Foundation, Governor Orengo reflected on the longstanding relationship between the County Government of Siaya and The Fred Hollows Foundation, acknowledging their significant contributions to the county’s health sector. In 2021, during the COVID-19 surge, the Foundation donated health equipment valued at KSh 660,000. The donation included theatre caps, gowns, scrubs, N95 masks, surgical masks, hand sanitizers, and automated thermometers, benefiting eye care workers, community health volunteers, and health organizations.
He highlighted the county’s progress in reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission to below national average levels and emphasized his efforts in decentralizing access to healthcare services to the grassroots.
The delegation, which also included the Foundation’s Country Director, Mr. Peter Milo, is set to tour Siaya County Referral Hospital and meet with the county health management team.
The Governor was flanked by County Secretary Mr. Joseph Ogutu, County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation Dr. Martin K’Onyango, Chief Officers Hon. Walter Okelo (Governance, Administration, and ICT) and Dr. Samuel Omondi (Health and Sanitation), and Director of Public Health Dr. Kennedy Orwenjo.
The County Government of Siaya, through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Sports and Arts in collaboration with the Executive Office of the Governor, will roll out The Nyalore Governors Cup for football men. This will be a Countywide tournament for talents identification, talent exposure and creation of temporary job opportunities for the Youth – “Kandanda Mashinani, Pesa kwa Vijana!”. The tournament shall be played on weekdays for one month, the whole of December 2023. The one month long tournament will be launched by the Governor Siaya, James Orengo on 1st December 2023 at Sega Mixed Primary School starting at 9.00am. The final match will be played on 1st January, 2024, at the Migwena Sports Group.
