Mama Lucy Eye Hospital: A Lifeline for Nairobi’s Low-Income Residents
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Since its inauguration in November 2023, Mama Lucy Eye Hospital has emerged as a beacon of hope for thousands of city residents struggling with eye-related complications.
The specialized facility, located in Umoja 2, Embakasi West, has provided critical eye care services, particularly benefiting low-income patients who previously had limited access to quality treatment.
With a 30-bed capacity, the standalone eye hospital offers both medical and surgical eye care, catering exclusively to patients with eye problems.
Services include general eye treatment, cataract surgeries, eye lens replacement, intraocular injections, and stereo injections targeting retinal conditions.
According to Dr. Shibuya Maureen, a specialized ophthalmologist at the facility, the hospital has attended to over 22,000 eye-related cases since its inception, successfully conducting 300 eye surgeries.
“Since the launch of this facility, we have seen over 22,000 patients and successfully performed 300 surgeries. Patients are coming not just from Nairobi but also from counties like Garissa, Kiambu, and Kajiado, highlighting how widespread eye health challenges are in our society,” Dr. Shibuya stated.
In addition to surgeries, the hospital operates a stand-alone glass production unit, which has dispensed 1,373 spectacles and replaced 343 lenses for patients.
The in-house spectacle unit ensures efficiency, with patients receiving prescription glasses within 30 minutes of diagnosis.
For many beneficiaries, Mama Lucy Eye Hospital has been a life-changing facility.
Reverend Regina Ignatious, who had her eyesight restored at the hospital, returned with her visually impaired granddaughter in hopes of similar success.
“I was here a few months ago when I was visually impaired, and the doctors helped me regain my sight. The services were excellent, so I have brought my granddaughter here for treatment,” she said.
One of the most remarkable success stories came during a free eye clinic held before the hospital’s official launch.
An 85-year-old man from Garissa, who had been partially blind for years, regained his vision after undergoing surgery.
The hospital, whose stalled construction dates back to the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) era, was revived by Governor Johnson Sakaja, who facilitated the installation of modern medical equipment to fully operationalize it as an eye hospital.
To expand its impact, Mama Lucy Eye Hospital has also become a training center for future eye specialists, ensuring sustainability in quality eye care.
According to CEO Martin Wafula, the facility is committed to enhancing its services and reaching even more patients in need.
“We envision a future where every Kenyan, regardless of financial status, can access quality eye care. We are already seeing the impact, and we plan to expand our reach to serve more people across the country,” Wafula said.
With a knack for captivating storytelling, Amos Lumbasi has a talent for crafting narratives that resonate with readers. He combines meticulous research with a captivating writing style to create articles that are both informative and enjoyable to read.
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