Mandera:At least 400 patients from Mandera County and neighboring cross-border communities have benefited from eye surgeries following a free medical camp organized by the Mandera County Government. The initiative was conducted in partnership with international and local organizations.
According to Kenya News Agency, the medical camp was a collaboration with the Turkish Organization Care International (Care Solidarity and Development Association) and local partner Najida. It screened more than 600 patients suffering from various eye conditions, particularly cataracts.
Medical teams performed nearly 400 cataract surgeries, restoring sight to hundreds of patients who had been living with visual impairment. Health officials noted that cataracts remain a significant eye health concern in the region, with factors such as extreme temperatures and high solar radiation contributing to the problem.
Dr. Rashid Karu, an ophthalmologist at the Mandera Referral Hospital, highlighted the benefits received by many residents from the medical camp. He emphasized the commitment of medical practitioners to serving all patients.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Turkish and local medical teams for providing free surgical procedures and essential medication, describing the intervention as life-changing. The medical camp also attracted patients from neighboring Somalia and Ethiopia, underlining the need for specialized healthcare services in the cross-border region.
Further discussions between the county government and partner organizations have led to plans to make the initiative an annual program starting in 2027. The proposed expanded medical camps are expected to include additional specialized surgical and medical services beyond eye care, aiming to improve healthcare access for residents of Mandera and neighboring communities.
