An ophthalmology/eye unit is being constructed in Elgeyo Marakwet.The centre upon completion will offer both in and outpatient services to patients.
Deputy Governor Wisley Rotich who led a groundbreaking ceremony of the construction works of the facility at the Iten County Referral Hospital said works would begin immediately adding that the eye hospital is expected to be ready by the end of the year.
He said: “This is a great milestone for our County as far as health matters are concerned. We expect the contractor to start working immediately. In the next 10 months, the facility should be ready for use.”
He added that the eye services offered in the County facility will be affordable noting that an eye surgery at private hospitals cost as high as Sh 90,000 while the County hospitals only charge between Ksh 5,000 to sh 10,000.”
The eye unit, a partnership project of Elgeyo Marakwet County and Operation Eyesight will see both inject Sh5 million and Sh4 million respectively.
Operation Eyesight will fund the first phase of the project which will host an outpatient unit while the County will construct the inpatient section.
Ronald Kefa, Operation Eyesight Kenya Project Officer thanked the County government for being cooperative and supportive to their organisation.
He said : “The several trips we made to the Governor’s office are finally bearing fruits. I am happy to say that we will be working here to ensure that the health of our people is taken care of. ”
He noted that there are rising cases of eye infections that lead to blindness in the country owing to neglect.
“Not so much is said about the eye. Last year we did a survey through community health workers within Keiyo North and Marakwet West sub counties and we established that several people had eye problems but they had not realised. The new centre will help them have regular medical check ups,” he said.
Mr Rotich said upon completion, the hospital will be a one stop shop where eye surgeries will even be conducted.
Present during the occasion were County Secretary Paul Chemuttut, Health Administration CO Josephat Maiyo, ICRH Medical Superintendent Benjamin Kimaile among other County staff.
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