CHPFUND

Community sensitization on Eye Health

Community members at the Health information point (HIP) being sensitized on Eye health by the CHPF optician at Bodoi Junju ward Kilifi south sub-county.
A community member is receiving an eye screening at Bodoi Community from Esther, our optician at the eye clinic
A community member (patient) undergoing slit lamp examination at our clinic an exercise performed by CHPF ophthalmologist and ophthalmic nurse Riziki.

Eye Health Program

CHPF appreciates the fact that Eye health is important because eyes are essential for interacting with the world around us, allowing us to see and perform daily activities.

The eye health program focuses on proving basic eye care services that is Free eye screening, free medicine to common eye problems, affordable glasses and referral services to our partner facilities for the cases we cannot manage at community level and at our eye clinic at North Coast Medical College (NCMT). We also give health education to the communities and school going children to create awareness and sensitive on common eye conditions and refractive errors. We have an estimated population of 240000 thousand inhabitants and among those there is an estimate of:

  • Between 720- and 1,690-blind people;
  • 5,000 – 6,000 people with severe visual impairment majorly due to uncorrected refractive error;
  • 1,200 children with uncorrected refraction errors and 550 with amblyopia
  • 1,600 people over 50 years with glaucoma
  • 1,600 people per year developing significant visual impairment due to cataract 

Eye diseases are common and can go unnoticed for a long time. Some eye problems don’t have any symptoms in their early stages. A comprehensive dilated eye exam by an eye doctor can find eye diseases in the early stages. This is when treatment to prevent vision loss is most effective.

our main goals

The project aims at: offering free eye health services to the community, creating awareness and sensitization on eye health matters , offer glasses at an affordable referrals on eye health patients with cases we cant manage at our facility to respective partners. 

Area of intervention

  • Basic free eye screenings to the all community and schools
    2. Free eye drops to common eye conditions
    3. Free ophthalmic clinic on Wednesdays at the college
    4. Prescription glasses and sun glasses at an affordable price
    5. Referral services to other clinics for treatment and management of other medical conditions
    6. Free cataract surgeries with our partner facilities/organizations

 












Our eye clinic

 

At our eye clinic, we conduct slit lamp examinations for all patients to check the back of the eye. This test is  important especially for people with diabetes and hypertension, as these conditions can lead to vision problems.

Our ophthalmologist and ophthalmic nurse diagnose and treat common eye conditions such as allergies and infections by prescribing the necessary medications. For more serious cases that require specialized care, they provide referrals to appropriate healthcare facilities.

Our eye clinic runs every Wednesday at our NCMTC unit, ensuring regular access to eye care services for the community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the challenges that we are currently facing at the clinic are:
1. Inadequate funds to purchase some of the equipment like tonometer, autorefractor and glasses
2. Partners who can assist us whether with funds, glasses or even equipment donations to help
reach deep into the community and provide eye services.
3. Volunteers who are ready to give back their skills/ expertise to help our community leave a
better life with better sight.