Got Anyango Village, Siaya — A family in Got Anyango Village, grappling with an undiagnosed vision impairment, has been provided with a crucial medical intervention, bringing a ray of hope to their challenging situation. Boniface Otieno, 35, and his wife Eveline Otieno, 26, along with their two children, have struggled with poor vision, which significantly impacted their daily lives and their children’s education.

According to Kenya News Agency, the Project Coordinator at Ruma Women Development (RWD) CBO, it was during a community outreach on eye health that the organization discovered the Otieno family’s plight. Upon evaluation, the RWD diagnosed Eveline and her two children with cataracts, a condition that typically affects older adults, making their case particularly uncommon.

The Otieno family’s struggle became apparent when Eveline noticed her third-born son’s vision challenges, which persisted and hindered his learning abilities. The same condition was later observed in her two-year-old daughter, Ruth. With limited knowledge and financial constraints, the family endured without seeking medical care.

Dominic Ochieng, with the support of RWD, facilitated contact with The Fred Hollows Foundation, which is renowned for its global efforts to prevent blindness and improve eye health. The foundation responded by arranging for Eveline and her children to undergo necessary cataract surgeries at Sabatia Mission Hospital.

Mark Adams Maina, the Global Communications Coordinator for the Fred Hollows Foundation, emphasized the critical nature of early detection and treatment of eye conditions to prevent blindness. He highlighted the foundation’s role in educating communities and promoting regular eye health check-ups as a preventative measure.

The successful operations performed at Sabatia Eye Hospital have provided the family with not just improved vision but a transformed outlook on life. With the next round of surgeries scheduled for November 7, 2023, the family and the community await further good news.