Ending Preventable Blindness in Kenya

A new, ambitious four-year project designed by CBM to reduce avoidable visual impairment and blindness will be launched in Kenya on April 21, 2022. The Vision Impact Project (VIP), which targets ten counties in Kenya, will provide inclusive access to quality public eye health services.  

The 17-million-euro project will be launched in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The project, funded by CBM and BMZ (The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), is in line with CBM’s mandate of ensuring that everyone has access to effective eye care and that those permanently affected by vision impairments get the support and opportunities they need. To achieve this, CBM focuses on creating inclusive, sustainable, and locally owned eye health services and eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).  

Of the 7.5 million people in Kenya who have problems related to vision loss and impairment, only 1.6 million have access to effective eye care services. Yet, 75% of these eye diseases can be treated to prevent sight loss. Unfortunately, these people do not have support and live with the impact of their conditions on their chance to get an education, to work, or even to be accepted as members of their communities.  

Innovations like the smartphone-based vision screening app, Peek Vision, will be adopted to enable nonmedical personnel such as community workers and teachers to screen patients. The technology supports eye screening and referrals in regions of the world where such support is scarce, and resources are limited. Based on this, it is expected that at least 60% of the community and at least 80% of school children in Kenya will be screened during the project period. 

The VIP project, whose focus is strengthening health systems across all levels of health care, is aligned with the Kenyan Ministry of Health’s National Eye Health Strategic Plan, Kenya’s Vision 2030, the WHO’s vision priorities and UN Sustainable Development Goals. By creating access to inclusive, equitable eye care systems, Kenya will take a step toward integrating eye health care into its Universal Health Coverage. 

1. Strengthen infrastructure, equipment, instruments, medical supplies, and human resources for eye health.  
2. Create awareness and increase demand for Inclusive Eye Health services through efficient screening using Peek technology and referrals. 
3. Integrate services and include eye health in government health policies and plans. 

VIP Kenya will support sustainability and local ownership through gradual transitioning of eye health service delivery to trained local providers. The aim is to ensure that when the project ends, communities continue to receive needed services at equipped health centres nearer to home and will only be referred to specialist eye care units when necessary.