Hundreds of Kajiado residents received free eye care services this week as the county joined the rest of the world in marking World Sight Day.
The eye screening exercise, held in Kajiado town, was organized by Operation Eyesight in partnership with the Kajiado County Department of Health, Christian Blind Mission (CBM), and Kajiado Referral Hospital.
The clinic offered residents free consultations, screenings, and expert advice on managing eye complications. For many, it was a rare opportunity to access specialized care without the burden of travel or cost. Health workers also educated attendees on the importance of early diagnosis and the need for affordable, accessible eye care.
Susan Anjichi, an eye specialist with Operation Eyesight, said cataracts remain the leading cause of visual impairment in Kajiado, accounting for 33.2 per cent of all cases. She dispelled the myth that cataracts only affect the elderly, noting that the misconception prevents younger patients from seeking timely treatment.
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While Kajiado Referral Hospital now boasts a modern eye clinic complex, Anjichi said fear of surgery and long distances to health facilities continue to deter many residents from seeking help. She praised the county government for supporting outreach efforts and allowing her organization to work closely with community health workers, who have played a vital role in mobilizing rural populations.
“Community health workers hold the trust of people in remote areas. Their involvement has greatly improved turnout during our outreach programmes,” she said.
More than 700,000 residents have received eye check-ups through Operation Eyesight’s initiatives, with over 1,500 cataract surgeries successfully restoring sight to patients. This year’s World Sight Day was marked under the theme “Affordable, Accessible, Available Eye Care for Everyone.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Kenya, over 80 per cent of blindness is caused by curable and preventable conditions, yet 7.5 million people still lack access to quality eye care.
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The Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) 2024 survey shows that Kenya’s effective cataract surgical coverage stands at 50.7 per cent, while refractive error coverage remains low at 6.2 per cent. Health officials say visual impairment is a growing concern in Kajiado, with one in every seven people aged 50 and above living with some form of sight problem, and two in every 1,000 residents completely blind.
Experts attribute the high prevalence to the county’s dry, dusty environment and close interaction between humans and livestock conditions that promote the spread of trachoma, a bacterial infection that affects the eye conjunctiva.
Organizers plan to expand outreach efforts to other parts of the county in the coming months.
By Masaki Enock
