Elegeyo Marakwet to get Sh9m eye unit at hospital

Elgeyo Marakwet County has commissioned the construction of a Sh9 million ophthalmology unit in Iten to the relief of patients who have been relying on Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) for eye care.

Upon completion later in the year, the facility will be expected to offer inpatient and outpatient services.

Area Deputy Governor Wiley Rotich led a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction works at Iten County Referral Hospital. He hailed the partnership project between the county and Operation Eyesight Kenya. “This is a great milestone for our county. We expect the contractor to start working immediately. In the next 10 months the facility should be ready for use,” he said.

Rotich said the facility would be a one-stop-shop, where all eye care services, including surgeries, will be offered. “Many patients relied on MTRH and other private facilities for services that proved to be costly. This facility will considerably reduce such expenses,” he said.

He said eye services in county hospitals cost between Sh5,000 and Sh10,000, much lower than what is offered in private ones.

Operation Eyesight Kenya will fund the first phase of the project, which will host an outpatient unit while the county will construct an inpatient section.

Operation Eyesight Kenya Project Officer Ronald Kefa thanked the county government for working with them. “The trips we made to the governor's office are bearing fruit. We'll ensure the health of our people is taken care of,” said Mr Kefa.

The officer regretted the rising cases of eye infection in the region, some of which have resulted in blindness. “Last year we did a survey with community health workers within Keiyo North and Marakwet West sub-counties, and established that a number of people have eye problems,” he said.