- Fredrick Odiero reports that Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has raised concern over limited ophthalmology services.
- The governor says specialist shortages particularly disadvantage rural communities seeking timely and affordable eye care.
- Nyong’o spoke during the commissioning of the new Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital in Kisumu.
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o has decried the low number of ophthalmologists in the country.
Nyong’o said Kenya continues to face a shortage of eye specialists, with many concentrated in urban areas while a large proportion of the population lives in rural regions.
The governor said this imbalance limits access to timely diagnosis and treatment for people with preventable or treatable eye conditions.
According to the Ministry of Health, Kenya has reduced the prevalence of blindness from 0.7 per cent in 1990 to 0.37 per cent in 2023, but major gaps remain in cataract surgery, specialist distribution and other eye-health services.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Dr Rasik Kantaria Kisumu Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital in Kisumu, Prof Nyong’o described the facility as a landmark investment that will restore sight and renew hope for thousands of residents across Kisumu and the wider Western Kenya region.
New hospital expands specialised eye care
“The fight against avoidable blindness has become a global mission. More than 1,400 projects have been implemented in 118 countries and millions of cataract surgeries performed,” he said.
The newly commissioned hospital provides optical and general eye-care services, including specialised consultations and surgical procedures, making it one of the major specialised eye-care facilities serving the region.
The governor thanked Lions International for its investment in the health and wellbeing of residents.
“This is a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when good governance creates an environment that fosters confidence, attracts investment and unites government and development partners in service of our people,” he said.
The founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Uzima University, Archbishop Zaccheus Okoth, said the hospital was a dream realised through a shared vision nurtured through years of trust, commitment, sacrifice and perseverance.
“This achievement represents the realisation of a partnership initiated in 2015 between Uzima University and Lions Club International District 411 to establish a teaching and referral eye hospital serving the people of Kenya and the broader East African region,” Archbishop Okoth said.
He said the goal was never merely to build a structure but to create a lasting legacy.
“Where future ophthalmologists will be trained, where nurses, clinical officers, optometrists, researchers and specialists will acquire knowledge and skills, where innovation and research will thrive, and where the people of the region will access quality and affordable eye care close to home,” he added.
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The hospital was officially commissioned by Governor Nyong’o and is expected to serve patients from Nyanza, Western Kenya and neighbouring East African countries.
By Fredrick Odiero
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