MCA calls for more investment in eye care health services

Parklands MCA Jahendra Malde has encouraged investors in the health sector to consider working closely with the national and county government in building more eye care centers within the Nairobi Metropolitan area.

The legislator has said that challenges related to visual impairment are on the rise in the city with many residents suffering in silence.

He spoke in Westlands, Nairobi during the official launch of the Westlands Laser Eye Hospital which will cater for 100 patients at a go.

“Many people, families, and populations continue to suffer the consequences of poor access to high-quality, affordable eye care, leading to vision impairment and blindness,” he said

In 2020, an estimated 596 million people had distance vision impairment worldwide, of whom 43 million were blind. Another 510 million people had uncorrected near vision impairment, simply because of not having reading spectacles. A large proportion of those affected (90%), live in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, encouragingly, more than 90% of people with vision impairment have a preventable or treatable cause with existing highly cost-effective interventions.

The MCA said that there is also need to put more emphasis on translating research findings into policy and practice, including better partnership with policy makers and integrating eye health research into general research priorities.

“We must also support capacity building through partnerships between researchers and research institutions,” he added.

The Westlands facility was officially launched by Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu and Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director General, Major General Mohamed Badi.

The facilities’ Chief Executive, Mr. Sanjeev Agarwal, promised to work hand in hand with Nairobi City County Government to ensure harmonized provision of medical services that would mutually be of benefit to Nairobi residents.

“We are going to work together so that Nairobi residents can benefit from more quality services even as we strive to achieve maximum Universal Health Coverage. He said