Rwanda: Kayonza Expands Eye Care With Mobile Clinics, School Screenings, Surgeries

Kayonza District has started an eye care campaign. The goal is to reduce avoidable blindness and vision impairment. This initiative focuses on rural areas most affected by these issues.

The campaign includes mobile eye clinics, school screenings, and cataract surgeries. It aims to improve early detection and treatment of vision problems. Many communities lack access to proper eye care services.

During the 2025 Kayonza Open Day on June 6, Governor Pudence Rubingisa spoke about the initiative. He urged ophthalmologists to visit schools and villages regularly. Early intervention is crucial for preventing long-term damage, especially in children.

Rubingisa expressed gratitude to healthcare providers for their efforts. He emphasized that many children have undiagnosed eye problems. Parents often do not realize their children need help. If untreated, these conditions can worsen over time.

Eastern Province has the highest number of people with vision impairment in Rwanda. A recent assessment by the Rwanda Biomedical Center revealed over 4,000 blind individuals in the region. Additionally, more than 10,000 people have mild vision problems.

Residents appreciate the new mobile services in their area. Aman Havugimana from Nyagatovu Cell mentioned that traveling to Gahini Hospital is costly for many people. "Eye checkups are out of reach for those in remote areas," he said.

Gahini Hospital leads this campaign with support from the district. It is the only facility in the province with a resident ophthalmologist. Hospital data shows cataracts are commonly treated there, especially among those over 45 years old.

Jules Valente Muvunyi manages Eye Care Projects at Gahini Hospital. He noted that cataracts remain the leading condition treated at their facility. In two years, they performed around 760 cataract surgeries.

Among children under 15 years old, environmental factors cause common eye allergies. Muvunyi stressed that prevention is vital through good eye hygiene and avoiding dust.

In just two weeks, Gahini Hospital screened nearly 1,540 students across 13 schools with district support. Most issues were manageable with medication or counseling at school level.

However, 64 students needed further treatment; 17 have already followed up on it. Muvunyi recommends eye checkups at least twice a year for everyone.

The district's efforts align with a broader development agenda supported by partners investing over Rwf7 billion in local services. These initiatives helped reduce Kayonza's poverty rate from 51% in 2017 to 36% in 2024 according to EICV7 report findings.

Sam Gahigana, Director of Joint Action Development Forum (JADF), highlighted their focus on urgent needs and sustainable solutions as key to success. They aim to support vulnerable individuals while eventually reaching everyone in need.

Mayor John Bosco Nyemazi announced plans to transform Gahini Hospital into a central hub for comprehensive eye care services in Eastern Province soon.
"It will provide diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation for blind and visually impaired individuals," he stated.