05/03/2026
Together with our country director Benson Ngure and H.E Dr. Andrew Mwadime - Wakujaa, EGH, Governor Taita Taveta County we officially launched our Telerefraction Project at Mwatate Sub County Hospital. It is an important step toward expanding access to quality eye care in underserved communities.
The launch was attended by our Head of Operations and Partnerships, Jeff Ochieng and Head of Optics,Diana Langat reflecting our organization’s strong leadership commitment to strengthening access to sustainable eye care services.
As our Country Director noted during the launch, “4 out of 10 people live with refractive errors and many do not even know it as eye health has long been overlooked, which is why bringing these services closer to remote communities is a priority for us. When a community sees better, it lives better.”
Telerefraction is an innovative model that uses digital technology to conduct eye examinations remotely. With specialized equipment and trained technicians on site, patients’ eye measurements are captured and securely shared with optometrists located elsewhere who analyze the data and prescribe the appropriate corrective lenses. This allows quality eye care services to reach communities where specialists are limited.
We chose to implement this project in Taita Taveta County because of its vast geography and the limited availability of specialized eye care services, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Many residents travel long distances to access vision care, leaving many correctable vision problems untreated.
To address this gap, 50 eye camps are planned across the county’s sub-counties, beginning this week in Mwatate Sub-County. Through these camps, we aim to screen thousands of residents and distribute prescription glasses to those diagnosed with refractive errors.
The project is being implemented on the ground in collaboration with Wakujaa Foundation and Community Livelihood Impact Foundation whose partnership is instrumental in reaching communities at the last mile.
By combining technology, partnerships, and community outreach, we are working toward a future where quality vision care is accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live.