09/12/2025
Garissa Referral Hospital Unveils New Equipment as Eye Unit Expands Specialist Services
Garissa County Referral and Teaching Hospital has completed the installation of new ophthalmic equipment at its eye clinic, alongside an intensive training programme for clinical and technical staff.
The newly installed equipment will enhance the unit’s diagnostic and surgical capacity. It will enable clinicians to detect eye diseases earlier and manage them more effectively.
The upgraded equipment introduces enhanced diagnostic precision and broadens the hospital’s capacity to treat both routine and complex eye conditions.
Staff who will operate the machines have undergone detailed hands-on training focusing on safe use, maintenance, and improved clinical outcomes.
Mr. Mahat Sheikh Salah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital said the upgrade marks a broader push to improve specialised care, reduce surgical backlogs, and expand access to affordable treatment in a region where eye-care needs remain high.
Mr. Salah expressed gratitude to partners involved, emphasising that sustained collaboration is essential to improving health outcomes in underserved communities.
“The expanded equipment and newly trained staff are all critical for Garissa County Referral and Teaching Hospital which aims to be a leading centre for ophthalmic care in the northern region,” he said.
Mr Salah said the upgrade will ensure that county residents and patients receive timely, high-quality treatment closer to home.
The advanced tools support a wide range of functions — from measuring eye pressure and capturing detailed retinal images to guiding complex procedures such as cataract and glaucoma surgeries.
The CEO said the Eye Unit of the facility has expanded its capacity to deliver more accurate diagnoses and safer, faster care, “reinforcing its role as a leading eye-care centre in the region.”
Dr Amal Al-Shabibi, Head of the Eye Unit, welcomed the installation, describing it as “a transformative step” for the region.
“This investment directly improves the quality of care our patients receive,” she said. “With better equipment and well-trained staff, we can diagnose conditions earlier, operate more efficiently, and reduce the number of referrals to facilities outside Garissa. Our goal is to ensure that no patient has to travel far for services that should be available here at home.”
The Eye Unit of Garissa County Referral Hospital already offers a wide range of specialist services, including glaucoma surgery, paediatric cataract surgery, dermoid and conjunctiva excision, cataract operations, and community eye screening.
Dr Al-Shabibi noted that the new installation will strengthen these services and support the management of rising cases of preventable blindness.
Dr Al-Shabibi noted that despite the gains made through the new installation many challenges persist. She emphasised that the hospital continues to operate under resource constraints that limit the full potential of the Eye Unit’s services.
She said the long-standing push for Garissa County Referral and Teaching Hospital to be accredited as a Level Six National facility remains critical. Such accreditation would unlock greater national funding, specialist staffing, and expanded infrastructure — resources she says are essential for sustaining high-quality ophthalmic care in a region with growing demand.
“Until we attain Level Six status, the challenges will continue to affect our ability to scale services to the level our population needs,” Dr Al-Shabibi said.
She added that the upgrade is a strong step forward, but long-term investment is required to ensure the region has a fully equipped specialist centre capable of handling complex cases without referrals outside the county.
She urged continued collaboration between county leadership, national health agencies, and development partners to strengthen the hospital’s capacity, saying that improving eye health across Northern Kenya requires sustained support, not one-off interventions.
