Why is this centre important?
The centre of excellence is a further development of the successful project to train midwives and nurses in eye examinations of newborns and young children and provide information about eye health to mothers. This has led to a significant increase in the number of children coming to the clinic. Early treatment is essential to prevent permanent visual impairment or blindness. The centre will continue training in eye screening and simultaneously offer ophthalmologists, Ophthalmic Clinical Officers, opticians, outreach workers, and other healthcare professionals further training in pediatric eye care. We believe the etsablisment of this centre is essential because:
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Lack of expertise: There are very few ophthalmologists in Kenya who can operate on children, and opticians and other healthcare personnel lack specialized expertise in pediatric eye health.
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Widespread blindness: Over a billion people in the world live with visual impairment or blindness, and the majority live in developing countries. Many of these cases could have been avoided with access to proper treatment.
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Eye diseases must be made visible: Eye diseases have historically not received the same attention as other global health challenges from the international community.
What will the centre offer?
The centre will treat children and young people with various eye diseases and conditions that reduce visual acuity, including:
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Refractive errors
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Amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus
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Childhood cataracts
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Retinopathy of prematurity
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Glaucoma
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Keratoconus (change in the shape of the cornea)
Treatment will take place with simultaneous training of healthcare personnel. The children’s centre is an important step forward in Right to Sight’s work against needless blindness and could have a major impact, not only for Kwale Eye Centre but for all of Kenya. The establishment of the centre has received funding from, among others, the AKO Foundation.