Fred Hollows Foundation partners with KMTC in effort to address eyesight problem
The Australian based humanitarian organization, Fred Hollows Foundation has partnered with the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) to help restore eyesight amongst individuals with vision problems.
While marking their third decade anniversary since inception during a ceremony held in Nairobi today, representative for Australian High Commission in Nairobi speaking on behalf of the High Commissioner His Excellency Anouska Charles lauded the foundation’s initiative and affirmed to support the noble initiative.
“The Australian High Commissioner to Kenya has reaffirmed their support to the foundation and congratulates you for the well good work and pledges to support the programme to achieve its goals and mission.” The High Commissioner’s representative observed.
The foundation country manager Jane Ohuma said they aim to integrate restoration of eyesight as a key pillar under the Kenyan government Universal Health Coverage programme.
At the same time, she added that nine out of ten cases of blindness can be avoided if treated early.
“In nine out of ten cases of blindness and vision impairment can be avoided when treated early. But it all starts with educating people. We can drastically reduce the chances of someone going blind if they have the right eye health knowledge, and get their eyes tested regularly. We are proud of our record of training future generations of eye doctors, building local capacities, and driving innovation,” Ohuma noted.
At the same time, Head of Ophthalmology at the Ministry of Health Dr. Michael Gichangi 15.5 per cent of Kenyans need quality eye care services.
“The Ministry of Health estimates that 15.5 per cent of Kenyans need quality eye care services, ranging from surgeries, treatments, and spectacle corrections, but only about a fifth have access to eye health services. We are working to change that in partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation and the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) by expanding equitable access to eye care in remote communities in Kenya,” Gichangi observed.
The Fred Hollows Foundation is a member of The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and is compliant with the ACFID code of conduct.
It is also accredited by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), responsible for managing the Australian Government’s aid programme.
“The Foundation is unique in its approach. We not only support treating patients, but we focus on making eye health an integral part of Universal Health Coverage. We do this through life-changing surgeries and treatments, strengthening health systems, equipping hospitals, training eye health teams, and working with health authorities and other partners to push for change at all levels, empowering local people to deliver local services,” Ohuma added.
The Foundation was established in 1992 as an international non-governmental development organization has worked with governments and other stakeholders in twenty countries across Africa and Asia, to tackle the problem of avoidable blindness and visual impairment and empower communities to run sustainable eye health services.
To date, the Foundation has restored sight to more than 3 million people and has become a global leader in eye health. The Foundation has a long history in Kenya from mid-1990’s as it trained the first ophthalmologists in Africa to perform cataract surgery using Intraocular Lens (IOL).
According to the programme beneficiary trainee, Professor Wanjiku Mathenge in 2004, she collaborated with the foundation to begin a small programme in Kenya focused on increasing access to eye health for people in the then Nakuru district.
Since then, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the foundation’s work has significantly increased access to eye health services amongst the rural population in Kenya spreading across 17 counties.
