Turkana opens optical workshop to tackle rising blindness

Turkana County officials inspect eye care facilities at Lodwar County Referral Hospital /MATHEWS NDANYI

More than 20,000 people in Turkana are living with varying degrees of blindness or eye-related medical conditions.

To address this challenge, the county government has launched an optical workshop at Lodwar County Referral Hospital, a move expected to strengthen access to specialised eye care services.

The facility will enable residents to access a full range of eye care services, from screening and diagnosis to treatment and prescription of corrective glasses.

Residents have welcomed the return of optical services at the hospital, which is supported by the Fred Hollows Foundation, saying it will help ensure uninterrupted access to eye care.

County officials said the workshop will offer services, including diagnosis and correction of refractive errors such as short-sightedness and long-sightedness, through prescription glasses.

Health executive Joseph Epem said the optical workshop forms a key component of the hospital’s eye unit and marks a milestone in expanding specialised care.

“It is a milestone for us because for the first time, optical services will be offered here at the hospital where patients can be diagnosed and receive glasses to correct refractive errors,” he said.

Epem said the partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation is pivotal in the fight against avoidable blindness.

According to the county health department, Turkana has been recording a high prevalence of avoidable blindness largely caused by trachoma and cataract.

However, ongoing interventions have helped reduce trachoma prevalence to below five per cent from 52 per cent recorded in 2010.

Epem said the workshop has been equipped with a wide range of optical frames, including high-quality frameless glasses that were previously only accessible in major urban centres.

He said the initiative aligns with Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai’s Nine-Point Development Agenda, particularly the push for universal health coverage by bringing specialised services closer to residents.

Residents are also being sensitised to register with the Social Health Authority to enable them to access optical services at affordable rates without incurring out-of-pocket expenses.

North Rift regional coordinator for the Fred Hollows Foundation, Ben K’ Olwa, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving eye health services.

“We have worked with counties across the North Rift region, including Turkana, for the past 12 years implementing various eye health interventions aimed at addressing avoidable blindness,” he said.

K’Olwa said recent studies show the prevalence of avoidable blindness in Turkana stands at 6.2 per cent — almost twice the national average of about 3.2 per cent, according to RAAB findings.

“In numbers, about 20,000 people in Turkana are living with varying degrees of blindness. This is a concern that we are working to address in partnership with the county government,” he said.

He said the foundation has committed Sh11 million in the 2025-26 financial year to support additional eye health interventions across the county.

Instant analysis

If sustained, the initiative could help lower cases linked to eye conditions. By enabling local diagnosis and the provision of prescription glasses, the facility will reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.