NANDI JOINS WORLD TO CELEBRATE WORLD SIGHT DAY
County Government of Nandi in collaboration with Operation Eyesight commemorate world sight day at Meteitei Sub County Hospital in Tinderet Sub County.
The day held every second Thursday of October seeks to raise awareness, about good eye health and prevention of blindness.
The event engaged with the public across the sub county with the common goal of drawing attention towards vision-related issues and eye health.
A section of public following through the event in readiness for eye check up.
Speaking at the event, the CEC Member for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech urged members of the public to ensure they take good care of their eyes to avoid sight problems noting that many cases of blindness could be prevented if early treatment is sought.
CEC Member for Health and Sanitation, Ruth Koech, emphasizing the importance of eye care and early treatment to prevent avoidable blindness at the event.
She reiterated that many eye ailments could be treated if diagnosed at an early stage.
She noted that many residents, especially the elderly, do not seek treatment due to varied reasons such as poverty, ignorance, fear of surgery and cultural beliefs resulting in loss of sight.
Patients line up at Meteitei sub county hospital for eye check up.
“Patients only seek treatment as a last resort after they have already become blind and not much can be done. Some procedures such as removal of cataracts take less than 30 minutes and end up saving sight,” she said.
On her part, Kapsabet County Referral Hospital cataract surgeon Florah Kiplagat said that “Eye health and vision care are integral components of a person’s overall health and quality of life.”
“We encourage everyone to get their eyes checked at least twice a year. As well as a check of your vision, a routine sight test might just reveal a more serious sight-threatening or wider health condition,” she said.
A patient being attended to by optometrist.
Residents who benefited from the free check-up during the event lauded the County Government of Nandi for the celebrating the day in Tinderet sub county saying most of them especially the aged ones are suffering in silence.
An elderly patient’s eye condition is being assessed in preparation for further treatment.
Joel Yegon, a beneficiary of the free check-up said he has had eye aches for a long time without receiving treatment.
“We appreciate the County Government of Nandi for celebrating this day in Meteitei sub county hospital. I have never gone to hospital for check-up due to lack of money. However, today we have been screened and received reading glasses from free,” he said.
Another beneficiary, retired Chief William Chumba also said it was worthwhile bringing the free services closer to them.
“We are extremely happy. Some of us have received eyeglasses; others have been given drugs, while those with serious cases have been referred to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital for operation,” he stated.
Also present were the Tinderet Sub County MoH Dr Joesph Kibor, County Disease Surveillance Coordinator Japhet Rutto and County Head of Health Advocacy Jane Samoei among other officials.