Waiguru rolls out free eye surgical camp targeting over 4,000 Kirinyaga residents

According to county officials, over 1,000 people have so far been screened in the outreach programme being conducted in partnership with Pankaj Social Services.

The camp, which is expected to run until Saturday, March 28, is targeting between 3,000 and 4,000 residents across the county.

Kirinyaga County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation George Karoki said the initiative aims to address eye complications linked to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

“This outreach involves free screening, treatment, surgeries and follow-up care,” Karoki said.

He noted that Kirinyaga continues to record a high burden of non-communicable diseases, many of which contribute to vision-related complications.

“Conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure often lead to eye problems such as cataracts,” he said.

Karoki said the screening exercise is being carried out across sub-counties to identify patients in need of specialised care and refer them for surgery at the county referral hospital.

He said early screening and treatment are critical in preventing patients from developing severe eye conditions.

Governor Anne Waiguru said the county is encouraging residents to seek screening and treatment at health facilities, noting that those requiring advanced care are being referred for surgery.

Camp Manager Gurpreet Singh of Pankaj Social Services said many eye conditions often go untreated due to delayed check-ups and low awareness.

“Many people neglect their eye health due to age, environmental factors like dust, or simply lack of awareness, which is why regular check-ups are very important,” Singh said.

Cataracts are cloudy areas that form in the lens of the eye and can impair vision, while pterygium is a fleshy growth that develops on the surface of the eye.