Residents of Trans Nzoia County and its surrounding areas suffering from eye-related issues have welcomed the establishment of a new eye hospital in Cherang’any Sub-County.
The facility, spearheaded by former Cherang’any MP Wesley Korir, officially began operations with free services, including eye exams, glasses, and cataract surgeries, offered by specialists from the Kitale Eye Unit.
Speaking during the launch, Dr. Hillary Rono, an ophthalmologist at Kitale County Hospital, highlighted the significance of the new hospital in addressing the region's eye care challenges.
“This facility will help decongest Kitale County Hospital. Most of the patients who turned up today had cases of cataracts and trachoma, which are prevalent in this region,” Dr. Rono stated.
The hospital aims to bridge the gap in eye care accessibility by providing affordable, quality services locally. According to Mr. Korir, the initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen the region’s healthcare system.
“Our goal is to ensure residents can access quality eye care locally. This is part of a broader plan to strengthen our health system through comprehensive primary, secondary, and tertiary care,” said Mr. Korir.
Dr. Rono emphasized the need for increased investment in the region’s health sector, citing the inadequate ratio of one eye doctor for every 250,000 people and one nurse for every 125,000 people.
"To effectively serve this region, we must invest in infrastructure, equipment, and human resources,” he added.
Residents expressed gratitude for the initiative, which saves them the trouble of traveling to Kitale town for treatment.
“We are very grateful for this initiative. We can now access services closer to us,” said John Murey, a resident of Makutano.