Optometrists empower Mukuru’s children with free eye care on world sight day

In celebration of World Sight Day, the Optometrists Association of Kenya, in collaboration with Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital and OneSight Luxottica Essilor, organised a week-long eye screening initiative at the Mukuru Promotion Centre (MPC) in Nairobi.

The event, which took place from Monday, 7th October to Friday, 11th October, aimed to provide essential eye care services to students and staff within the Mukuru informal settlement.

The theme for this year’s World Sight Day, observed on 10th October, was “Love Your Eyes, Children”. The focus was on children’s eye health, underscoring the vulnerability of young people to vision problems, often overlooked due to misconceptions or lack of awareness.

Grace Muthoći, an optometrist with the Optometrists Association of Kenya, noted that many parents dismiss their children’s eye complaints, assuming they are exaggerating or fabricating the symptoms.

“Many parents don’t realise the seriousness of some eye conditions affecting their children. This initiative was an opportunity to raise awareness and offer solutions to families who cannot afford healthcare,” explained Muthoći.

Mukuru, an informal settlement with a large population of children from low-income families, was an ideal location for the clinic.

By hosting the event at MPC, a well-established charity institution run by the Sisters of Mercy since 1985, the organisers ensured accessibility for the students and staff who are often unable to afford basic healthcare, let alone specialised eye care.

Challenges uncovered

The screenings revealed several common eye health issues, the most prevalent being allergies. Muthoći stressed the importance of basic healthcare in managing such conditions, which are easily treatable if detected early.

“We also identified more serious conditions like cataracts, which often go unnoticed by parents and caregivers. These conditions can significantly hinder a child’s performance in school and daily activities,” she said.

One of the more severe cases involved children suffering from keratoconus, a progressive eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and bulge forward into a cone shape, distorting vision. Left untreated, keratoconus can lead to vision loss.

“We’ve referred several children to Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital for further treatment and surgeries where necessary,” added Muthoći.

A community effort

The success of the event was largely due to the collaborative efforts of the partners involved.

Muthoći emphasised the importance of teamwork in executing such initiatives.

“One cannot really work alone. Through this collaboration, Luxottica provided frames and lenses, Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital assisted with surgeries, and the Optometrists Association of Kenya handled the screening process. Together, we were able to achieve our goal of offering comprehensive care to the students,” she explained.

Dinah Mwendwa, the Deputy Director of Mukuru Promotion Centre, expressed her gratitude for the initiative, highlighting how it addressed a significant health challenge within their schools.

“We’ve had students struggling with vision issues, and their parents couldn’t afford treatment. This clinic has been a lifeline for many of them. We are grateful for the support and hope it will lead to long-term improvements in the health of our students,” she said.

Inspiring the next generation

For the students who participated, the event was more than just an opportunity for better vision—it was also an inspiration. Dini Hussein, a Form 3 student from Mukuru Kayaba, shared how the initiative motivated him to aspire to help others in the future.

“The optometrists conducting the free clinic here is a great initiative. It inspires us to want to do the same in the future,” he said.

Hussein, who is short-sighted, was among the students who received free glasses.

Similarly, Virginia Muthoni, a Form 3 student from St Michael’s Secondary school in Mukuru, expressed her relief: “It’s not easy for our parents to provide this treatment given the economic crisis in the country. I’m really thankful that they came,” she said.

The path forward

The clinic did more than just address immediate eye care needs; it also laid the groundwork for ongoing health education.

Teachers at MPC received training on how to identify students with potential vision problems, ensuring that those in need of care would be prioritised for future screenings.

Muthoći also urged the children to maintain proper eye hygiene, emphasising simple practices such as washing their eyes with cold water, avoiding frequent eye-touching, and practising regular handwashing to prevent infections.

“Despite their humble backgrounds, these children need to love their eyes and speak up when they have issues. Without healthy eyes, the whole body cannot function properly,” she advised.

As the event came to a close, the sense of community and collaboration was palpable. The initiative not only provided essential eye care but also fostered a sense of hope among the students and their families.

“You don’t know how important a part of your body is until you lose it,” Mwendwa wisely concluded, highlighting the lasting impact of the free eye clinic on the Mukuru community.