Turkana County partners with global foundation to boost local eye care
Lodwar, 21 July 2026
Collaborating with the Fred Hollows Foundation, Turkana has reduced trachoma rates from 42.3% to under 5%, securing a five-year commitment to expand vital eye services.
A Strategic Health Alliance in Turkana
On Tuesday, 21 July 2026, the Lodwar County and Referral Hospital (LCRH) hosted a delegation from the Fred Hollows Foundation to strengthen their partnership and expand high-quality eye care services across Turkana County [1]. Led by the Foundation’s Country Director, Peter Milo, and the North Rift Regional Coordinator, Dr. Ben Collo, the delegation met with county health officials to review ongoing progress and plan future eye health initiatives [1]. This collaboration is vital for Turkana, which is Kenya’s second-largest county by land area, spanning 77,000 square kilometres [1].
A Five-Year Commitment to Health Infrastructure
The meeting marked the beginning of a renewed five-year commitment by the Fred Hollows Foundation to support Turkana’s eye health programme [1]. Peter Milo confirmed that the Foundation will continue to assist the county, focusing heavily on building local capacity, upgrading infrastructure, and providing essential ophthalmic equipment to healthcare facilities [1]. These efforts aim to ensure that both local communities and vulnerable populations, such as refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, have reliable access to specialised eye treatments [1].
Practical Guide: How to Access Eye Care Services
For residents seeking treatment, eye care services are being decentralised to make them easier to reach [1]. Instead of travelling long distances to the main Lodwar County and Referral Hospital (LCRH), patients can now visit local satellite eye clinics established across various parts of Turkana [1]. These satellite clinics act as the first point of contact where trained healthcare workers can assess eye conditions, prescribe basic treatments, or refer complex cases to the main hospital in Lodwar [1][GPT].
Eligibility and Treatment Pathways
Any resident of Turkana County, including members of host communities and refugees living in areas like Kakuma and Kalobeyei, is eligible to access these services [1][GPT]. There are no registration deadlines to receive care, as the partnership is structured as a continuous, long-term five-year health programme [1]. To access care, patients should visit their nearest local health centre or satellite clinic during standard operating hours for an initial screening [GPT]. If specialised surgery or advanced treatment is required, local clinic staff will coordinate a referral to the LCRH Eyecare Unit [1][GPT].
The Dramatic Decline of Trachoma
A major highlight of the partnership is the remarkable progress made in eliminating trachoma, a painful and infectious eye disease that can cause permanent blindness [GPT]. Through coordinated public health efforts, Turkana County has successfully reduced its trachoma prevalence from a staggering 42.3% in the 2011/2012 period to below 5% [1]. This represents an absolute reduction of more than 37.3 percentage points, bringing the county below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) critical threshold [1].
Securing a Trachoma-Free Future
With trachoma levels now under the 5% limit, Turkana is on track to receive official validation as a trachoma-free region [1]. Dr. Ben Collo emphasised that the Fred Hollows Foundation plans to build on this success by integrating eye care directly into the broader primary healthcare system [1]. This integration ensures that eye health is treated as a core social and economic development priority, backed by better workforce training and data-driven advocacy [1].