The County Government of Trans Nzoia has been plagued by a shortage of opticians according to locals.
The locals, who were speaking during a medical camp on Friday, revealed that they are being forced to travel for long distances to find specialised eye treatment.
Dr Hillary Rono, an optician who was providing the services, revealed the country has a shortage of these doctors while the number of Kenyans suffering from eye conditions increases.
A voluntary eye operation drive in the George Natembeya-led county resulted in doctors calling on Natembeya and other government authorities to encourage students to study anatomy to increase the number of opticians in the county
Hundreds of residents from the county had travelled to Sibanga ward, Cherengani Constituency in the county to access optical services in a free drive organised by Athlete Wesley Korir.
"In Trans Nzoia alone, we have one million people, we are supposed to have four opticians, but I am alone. In the North Rift region, we have three million people and only four opticians," Dr Rono revealed.
The shortage has forced patients to stay at home and not seek medical attention, while others resort to taking painkillers to ease the pain.
Other patients are forced to use outdated and traditional ways of treating eyes, leading to a further spread of the disease.
"Some diseases like trachoma are widely spreading because the patients are using outdated methods to treat themselves," Dr Korir said.
A report by the Rapid Assessment for Avoidable Blindness Survey conducted between December 2022 and December 2023 revealed that at least 7.5 million Kenyans have eye problems countrywide. According to the survey, 53 per cent of these cases can be treated with glasses, but Kenyans face a challenge accessing these services.
Through the Social Health Authority, the government has allocated Ksh950 for glasses, which is not enough because most glasses cost at least Ksh5,000.
The concern comes at a time when the nation is facing a crisis with the medical fraternity as the rate of intern doctors committing suicide increases.
Intern doctors have been facing challenges, working extra hours without pay. Due to these conditions, five intern doctors have attempted to commit suicide, with two succumbing as a result.
Responding to the outcry by the doctors, Health Cabinet Secretary Debora Mulongo promised to streamline the healthcare sector and ensure intern doctors get better working conditions and all their arrears are paid.
On November 30, the Ministry announced that the government had disbursed Ksh965.9 million for payment of monthly stipends and arrears accrued to nursing, clinical officers, medical officers, and pharmacist interns.
The statement came after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) called for the withdrawal of services by medical interns due to the failure of the government to honour promises.
