eyes for east africa
The Eyes for East Africa (UK) [registered charity 1053222] was established in 1996 to provide support to the Kwale District Eye Centre. It is the focus for fundraising and the receipt of donations in the UK. The Trustees of Eyes for East Africa are Jim Crow, Tom Parkinson, George Walton and Dr. Roger Humphry. It is run entirely by volunteers, including the maintenance of the web sites, so overheads are minimal, typically less than 1% of annual donations received.
Kwale district eye centre
The Kwale District Eye Centre was founded in 1993 by UK trained ophthalmologist Dr Helen Roberts. The aim of the centre is to provide affordable, accessible eye care to combat the totally unnecessary rate of blindness in a very poor rural area.
The Kwale District Eye Centre is a charitable organisation. Patients pay only an affordable contribution towards their care. No patients are refused treatment. Donations are required, particularly to allow poor patients to undergo surgical procedures.
Before the Eye Centre was built there was nowhere in the area where a patient could access an ophthalmologist. The Eye Centre serves a population of around 1,000,000. Starting from a one room clinic, the Centre now has a well equipped air conditioned operating theatre and patient accommodation for post operative care. Dr Roberts is supported by a team of locally qualified, trained staff who report to a committee of 14 members representing the local community and local government.
Since 1993, 90,000 new patients have been registered at the Centre’s base. This figure does not include all the patients seen, as many need to return for ongoing follow up and care. Many thousands of patients are still receiving support and eye care services both at base, in schools and in the field.
In addition to the patients seen at the clinic, over 500,000 patients have been seen in the field. Over 35,000 eye operations have been performed most of which were sight restoring cataract operations. In remote parts of Kenya 24,000 patients have been treated . No patients are refused treatment. Donations are required, particularly to allow poor patients to undergo surgical procedures.
The Kwale District Eye Centre is a charitable organisation. Patients pay only an affordable contribution towards their care. No patients are refused treatment. Donations are required, particularly to allow poor patients to undergo surgical procedures.
Before the Eye Centre was built there was nowhere in the area where a patient could access an ophthalmologist. The Eye Centre serves a population of around 1,000,000. Starting from a one room clinic, the Centre now has a well equipped air conditioned operating theatre and patient accommodation for post operative care. Dr Roberts is supported by a team of locally qualified, trained staff who report to a committee of 14 members representing the local community and local government.
Since 1993, 90,000 new patients have been registered at the Centre’s base. This figure does not include all the patients seen, as many need to return for ongoing follow up and care. Many thousands of patients are still receiving support and eye care services both at base, in schools and in the field.
In addition to the patients seen at the clinic, over 500,000 patients have been seen in the field. Over 35,000 eye operations have been performed most of which were sight restoring cataract operations. In remote parts of Kenya 24,000 patients have been treated . No patients are refused treatment. Donations are required, particularly to allow poor patients to undergo surgical procedures.
