Robinson, Ophthalmic Clinical Officer & Cataract Surgeon 
Location: Kakamega County, Kenya
Organisation: Sightsavers

I am a trained ophthalmic clinical officer and cataract surgeon. I work at Kakamega General Hospital in the eye department.

Growing up, I had eye issues. I was a bit disadvantaged when I was in high school. I could not do what my fellow students were able to do, [and I struggled to] see or read. And from then – when I used to visit the eye hospital – that is where I started to generate an interest in eye care. It has been awesome. 

When I got my first case and I completed a surgery and the patient the next day was very happy, I think that was the best day of my life! 

The numbers of patients we are seeing here in the facility have really gone up because of what the community health promoters are doing within the county. Most of them are visiting the patients within the periphery and also the students in schools. And we find them the next week; they are coming in here. So when they come here, we are able to screen this person and probably pick up another condition apart from the refractive error that they’re having. So the impact is great, and we really appreciate that.  

Within the staff, we are all very positive about this programme because it has increased our numbers. When you are seeing 10 people in a day and eventually you’re able to see 20, then you need to be happy about that because you’ve increased the chances of restoring vision to people.  

I’m overwhelmed with what Sightsavers is doing within the county… in a short period of time [the project has been able] to reach out to so many people. Last week, on Thursday they saw 500 people. On Friday, they saw 300 people. Within a week you’re able to see 800, the number that we achieve here in a month. So you see, that is huge! 

I’m looking forward to a day when I’ll see this place is very big… what I want is for each and every person within the county to be able to access eye care services.

© Sightsavers/ Samuel Otieno