Outreach
Thousands have received help through our outreach efforts!
Outreach is crucial for reaching people who need assistance. In rural Kenya, people live scattered over vast distances. Many are unaware that they can receive treatment for eye conditions, and superstition and misconceptions create fear.
At outreach camps, everyone gets their eyesight checked, receives treatment for minor conditions, and is offered advanced treatment at the clinic if needed.
The outreach workers also provide information and guidance to those who attend – what are the signs of eye conditions, what they must do if their eyesight starts to deteriorate. This is essential preventive work.
Our collaborating hospital, Kwale Eye Centre, conducts the outreach efforts. The clinic serves a population of about one million, a large portion of whom live in poverty. Right to Sight supports 6 outreaches per month, with 2 earmarked for finding children. Additionally, there are 2 outreaches per month in the AKO project.
Why is outreach important?
- Outreach enables the early detection of eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and trachoma, before they lead to irreversible blindness. This is particularly important in remote areas where access to healthcare is limited.
- Outreach helps raise awareness about the importance of eye health and preventive measures.
- It provides an opportunity to educate local communities about hygiene, nutrition, and other factors that affect eye health.
- Many of those who suffer from needless blindness are among the most vulnerable in society, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
- Outreach brings healthcare services directly to these groups, ensuring they receive the help they need.
- Preventive measures and early treatment are often more cost-effective than treating advanced stages of eye diseases.
- Outreach helps reduce the long-term economic and social consequences of blindness.
How we work:
- Conduct weekly outreach camps in various locations.
- Treat simpler eye conditions on-site, while people needing more advanced treatment are offered transportation to the clinic.
- Carry out educational work on eye health, what the signs of eye conditions are, and when to seek help.
- Build trust with patients, reduce fear, and correct misconceptions.