Residents of Kiambaa Constituency in Kiambu County on Tuesday received free eye checkups courtesy of Msafi Optician.
The Msafi Optician clinicians were offering the free services with the aim of reaching residents who do not visit hospitals due to the fear of the cost implications involved.
Speaking at Ndenderu shopping centre, Msafi Optician outreach coordinator Margret Waithera said they receive more clients when they conduct outreach programmes than when they wait for patients to visit their optical facility.
She said their clients find it more convenient to be referred to particular facilities that can offer them the optical services they require after their problem has been diagnosed, because they spend a lot of time and money going back and forth from one health facility to another before their real problem is diagnosed.
Waithera said majority of the clients they serve during their outreach programmes are the elderly who complain of persistent eye aches or are using spectacles that have outlived their usage period causing them to experience problems with their eyes.
The coordinator said most children clients usually have allergies that react immediately they encounter some strange environments.
“Such reactions can be reduced by avoiding those things children are allergic to or giving medication to reduce the impact of the eyes reactions,” said Waithera.
Ann Wanjiru 62, who had come to seek treatment said she is gradually losing the ability to read small fonts of handwriting and hoped that she would get assistance from the opticians.
The coordinator said they will be holding monthly free medical camps for Kiambaa residents because the response was positive, a clear indication that a lot has to be done to enable residents to access free and reliable diagnosis and treatment or referrals for those whose conditions can not be dealt with immediately.