Kenya is strengthening and expanding eye health services across Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kakamega counties, with the aim of enhancing early detection and screening, timely referral and treatment, and continuity of follow-up care within communities and schools.
The expansion is being supported through Phase Two of the CBM Vision Impact Scale-Up Project and The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Mombasa Eye Health Project. These initiatives are intended to enhance access to specialised eye care services at the community level and reinforce measures aimed at preventing avoidable visual impairment.
Director of Curative and Nursing Services, Dr Andrew Toro, said approximately 200,000 Kenyans are blind. He noted that up to 80 per cent of visual impairment is preventable or treatable, while an estimated 9.6 million people are affected by uncorrected refractive errors.
Dr Toro said the projects support Universal Health Coverage and the National Eye Health Strategic Plan by strengthening the health workforce, improving infrastructure and integrating eye health services into primary healthcare facilities, schools and communities.
The Ministry is establishing 315 Primary Care Networks across Kenya’s 47 counties and is finalising the country’s first National Healthcare Referral Policy. These measures are expected to strengthen referral pathways, ensuring that individuals identified through community and school-based screening can access specialised treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up care.
The Ministry has also equipped and digitised Community Health Promoters to enhance early detection, health education, and referral services at the household level. Digital tools, including PEEK Vision, will facilitate the tracking of patients throughout the care pathway, from initial screening and treatment to post-treatment follow-up.
Dr Toro urged county governments to prioritise funding for eye, ear and hearing care in their development plans and annual budgets.
CBM Director for Inclusive Health, Dr Babar Qureshi, served as the Chief Guest. The event was also attended by representatives from CBM, The Fred Hollows Foundation, the Ministry of Education, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, the Kenya Institute of Special Education, the Council of Governors, county governments, development and implementing partners, and healthcare professionals.