Kwale Eye Centre
In 2017, we established a collaboration with Dr. Helen Roberts at the Kwale Eye Centre near Mombasa.
Since its start in 1993, the clinic in Kwale has performed vision examinations on over 400,000 people, performed cataract surgery on 40,000, and provided further education for many nurses specializing in eye diseases, known as Ophthalmic Clinical Officers (OCOs).
Dr. Roberts is also one of the few eye surgeons in Kenya with expertise in pediatric eye surgery. Right to Sight supports 8 outreach programs per month (outreach work, searching for blind individuals in rural areas), half of which are earmarked for finding children who need treatment.
To date, the clinic has provided further training for 14 OCOs, one of them in pediatric surgery.
Kwale Eye Centre’s commitment to long-term impact is perhaps most evident in its role as a recognized training institution. Approved by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board in Kenya, KEC serves as a vital learning hub for aspiring ophthalmologists. Postgraduate students from the University of Nairobi gain crucial surgical and clinical skills through hands-on experience at the facility. Furthermore, Ophthalmic Clinical Officers and Cataract surgeons from the Kenya Medical Training College receive specialized training at the centre, alongside nurses and management students from Mombasa Polytechnic College.
Beyond medical professionals, KEC provides practical training to students from various universities. Students from the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) and Kenyatta University benefit from the Centre’s Low Vision Programme, acquiring knowledge and skills to effectively support individuals with visual impairments and additional needs. Additionally, university students in Community Development Studies gain valuable practical experience through the Centre’s community-based initiatives.
KEC actively collaborates with other healthcare providers in the region, organizing regular conferences and training events. These initiatives ensure that local ophthalmologists and other eye care professionals receive continuous professional development and foster a collaborative environment for delivering optimal patient care.
Recognizing the importance of community engagement, KEC dedicates significant resources to training local community members in identifying eye diseases and facilitating timely referrals. Rural health workers, primary school teachers, traditional birth attendants, community leaders, and parents of visually impaired children all receive targeted training, empowering them to become crucial links in identifying and connecting individuals in need with the Eye Centre’s services.
Read more about KEC here.
