Taita Taveta county has started the construction of an eye treatment and care centre at the Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi.
The Sh80 million hospital is funded by the Government of Germany through Salus Oculi Kenya. It will be the county’s flagship project in the health department.
Governor Andrew Mwadime said the project will comprise of construction of infrastructure including a theatre, male and female ophthalmology wards, and the optometric unit, among other departments.
The facility, Mwadime said, will be equipped with state-of-the-art ophthalmology equipment to offer quality eye care services.
“Part of the funds will also be used for capacity building of healthcare workers. This facility will help improve healthcare services and strengthen the fight against eye related ailments,” the governor said on Sunday.
He noted that provision of effective and accessible eye care services is key for effectively controlling visual impairment in the region.
Mwadime lauded the partnership between the devolved unit and Salus Oculi Kenya, noting that it will help in realisation of the county’s development agenda.
“This strategic partnership will boost our efforts to offer accessible healthcare. We are working round the clock to bring on board more partners and investors in different departments,” he said.
The county becomes the tenth beneficiary of the multi-million shilling eye treatment centre, according to Salus Oculi Kenya Director Thomas Ng’eno.
Ng’eno said the facility will be completed by the end of the year, and is expected to serve hundreds of patients across the Coast region.
“Our technical team will fast-track the construction of the facility so as to be ready by December,” Ng’eno said.
County Ophthalmologist Surgeon Dr Asha Udu said the facility will provide a conducive environment for ophthalmology medical professionals hence contributing immensely to giving quality eye services.
“It will help in reducing referral of patients to other counties and instead offer specialised ophthalmology services to patients from different parts of Coast region," she said.
Currently, patients seeking eye care services depend on the already over stretched Fred Hollows Foundation funded eye centre at Moi County Referral Hospital, in Voi.
She said the facility will further play a central role in the realisation of universal healthcare in the region since it will offer a series of services.
Dr Udu said many people who need eye health services are unable to access the services for lack of specialised treatment facilities.
She emphasised on the importance of early detection of eye ailments, adding that many people turn blind because of late diagnosis or misdiagnosis.
"Whenever you have any eye problem come and seek treatment, the earlier the better. Let's stop use of over - the-counter drugs," Dr Asha said.
