Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital opens new facility in Kisumu
The investment, which is approaching KSh 1 billion (US$7.7 million), is expected to reduce the distance patients travel to access specialist ophthalmic services.
KENYA—Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital has officially commissioned its new facility in Kisumu, expanding access to specialised eye care for residents of Kisumu, Western Kenya and the wider East African region.
The Dr Rasik Kantaria Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital provides optical and general eye care, alongside specialised consultations and surgical procedures.
The three-level facility also houses advanced diagnostic services, an eye bank and capacity to support corneal transplantation.
The investment, which is approaching KSh 1 billion (US$7.7 million), is expected to reduce the distance patients travel to access specialist ophthalmic services.
Addressing gaps in eye care
Speaking during the official opening, Kisumu Governor Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o highlighted the need to expand access to specialist eye services, particularly in rural communities.
According to the Ministry of Health, about 0.7% of Kenyans are blind, with cataracts accounting for approximately 43% of blindness.
Access to specialist eye care remains a challenge in rural areas, where nearly 70% of Kenya’s population lives.
The new hospital aims to bring advanced diagnosis and treatment closer to communities that have traditionally faced barriers to specialist services.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by Governor Nyong’o, former Lions chairman Ramesh Mehta, former Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and Kisumu County Executive for Health Dr Greg Ganda, among other stakeholders.
A decade of investment
Dr Ganda said the hospital was the result of more than a decade of persistence and collaboration.
The project began as an initiative within the Lions movement and gradually developed into a major investment in specialised eye care.
He recognised Ramesh Mehta and his Lions team for initiating and sustaining the project through the years.
He also acknowledged Dr Rasik Kantaria, the principal donor whose contribution was instrumental in completing the facility and whose name it bears.
Other contributors included members of Kisumu’s Indian diaspora, who provided financial support, and Archbishop Emeritus Zacchaeus Okoth, who donated the land on which the hospital was built.
The facility is designed to serve patients from Kisumu, Western Kenya and the wider Lake Region, while also supporting access to specialised eye services for communities beyond the county.
Government and partner support
Dr Ganda said the government’s role was to create an environment in which investments could develop through partnerships, approvals and other forms of institutional support.
He noted that projects of this scale often require sustained commitment across different administrations and generations before they become operational.
The hospital’s commissioning marks the latest stage of a project that has brought together Lions International, donors, government agencies, health professionals and community stakeholders.
Lions SightFirst said the facility would enable more people to access quality eye care closer to home while expanding its services to communities across Western Kenya and the wider East African region.
Be the first to leave a comment