By Hilda Atika
Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa has launched a free eye camp at the County General Hospital in partnership with Operation International, a U.S.-based organization. The initiative, which began in November and December last year, has so far screened approximately 5,000 patients with eye conditions across the county’s 12 sub-counties. Of these, 300 patients were identified for surgery, which commenced on February 1 at the County General Hospital.
Speaking during his visit to monitor the progress of the surgeries, Governor Barasa noted that consultants are performing at least 50 surgeries daily. He also listened to testimonies from patients who arrived at the hospital with severe vision impairments but were now regaining their sight. “This eye camp is completely free, and our consultants from the USA brought specialized equipment, including microscopes and other tools worth over Ksh 50 million,” Governor Barasa revealed.
He further announced that the medical team, led by Dr. Brian Otinga, a U.S.-based specialist from Khwisero, will donate the equipment to the county’s healthcare facilities. “We plan to distribute some of the equipment across three regions. I sincerely appreciate the Operation International team for spearheading this initiative. We have agreed to conduct annual screenings leading up to the surgeries,” the governor stated.
Governor Barasa emphasized the importance of such medical initiatives and urged Kenyans in the diaspora to collaborate with county governments to support their communities. Additionally, he encouraged residents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA), noting that it offers financial relief for medical treatments. “I don’t want patients to resort to fundraising for chronic illnesses when they have an opportunity to register for SHA and access essential healthcare services,” he added.
