Added on August 26, 2008

THE KENYA RURAL BLINDNESS ERADICATION PROJECT

A project update

By Dr. Mukesh Joshi

Introduction

Since 1985 we have been running the Kenya Rural Blindness Eradication Project, where we go to the rural areas and screen the blind patients having Cataract and then perform Cataract operations at a nearby school or mission hospital. Here we travel with full ophthalmic team, theatre equipments and set up makeshift operation theatre to perform the cataract operations. We find that this project is the viable solution to eradicating blindness in rural areas such as Eldoret, Makumu, Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, Kericho, Kaptagat, Nyeri, Thika, Kabrah, Eldama Ravine, Chogoiya, Kapimguya, Kisii e.t.c.

This project was initiated by Rotarian Manu Chandaria, Rotarian Jerry Owuor and Honorary Rotarian, Dr. Mukesh Joshi in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Marburg- Schloss(Germany) and others in Belgium and Netherlands and Rotary Club Of Seoul (South Korea). We have done 10 000 free Cataract operations by now and we intend to continue this activity, as there are more than 100,000 blind patients waiting for cataract operation.

Apart from Cataracts, Kenya has perhaps the highest incidence of Keratoconus, which is very common in young patients. The normal shape of the cornea is similar to that of a soccer ball, however, in a Keratoconus patient, the cornea tends to be similar to the shape of a rugby ball. If this condition is not treated in time, the cornea perforates leading to corneal blindness. For the last four years, we started regular Keratoplasty operations in Kenya and the Eye Bank (Tissue Bank International; Baltimore, U.S.A) is sending free Corneas and we are performing free corneal grafting operations. We are grateful to Nairobi Hospital for offering us free Theatre facilities and one-day free hospital bed.

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