Entebbe hospital receives high-tech eye health machine

Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital has received a refractor eye health machine- the slit lamp microscope to examine patients.

The multipurpose machine worth sh43m is used to examine the anterior (frontal) segment of the eye that including the eyelids, cornea, lens and conjunctiva. It can also be used to diagnose corneal ulcers to know which germ- bacterium or fungus is causing the wound on the eye, said the president of Ophthalmology association of Uganda, Dr Simon Muwanguzi while unveiling the machine.

Dr Muwanguzi further noted that the machine is also used to examine the back of the eye using special lenses (such as 90D lense) to rule out any eye complications resulting from poorly controlled diabetes. It also has another attached device- goldmann tonometer which measures pressure of the eye, he said.

The Ophthalmologist at Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Ben Mulinde, said the eye machine is a game changer because previously, the clinicians have been using a touch which cannot effectively pick all the details.

The Ophthalmologist at Entebbe regional referral hospital Dr Ben Mulinde checks a patient using the new equipment

“It will help to diagnose eye diseases effectively in the eye department consequently, increasing the number of patients we shall examine,” Dr. Mulinde said.

The eye health equipment was donated by Light For the World through the "123 I Can See" Child Health Programme. The "123 I Can See" Child Eye Health Programme is dedicated to enhancing access to eye health at the community level.

The hospital director of Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, Dr John Bosco Nsubuga, said the equipment will go a long way in improving the quality of eye care services provided to patients.

With about 473 eye patients registered in a period of three months, management says that the facility is overwhelmed.

The hospital according to Dr Nsubuga serves a catchment area of close to 3.7 million people from the six districts that include Kampala, Wakiso, Nakaseke, Gomba and Kalangala.

He was speaking during the handover of the refractor eye health machine at Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital on Friday, the country director of light the World, Silvester Kasozi said the donation is aimed at making eye care accessible to all.

“We want this to be a centre of excellence of eye health especially among government hospitals across the country,” Kasozi said and quickly explained that the eye machine being digital, signifies a shift from an analogue way of diagnosing eye problems to an efficient but also effective interventions.

He said one of the strategies of the agency is to curb preventable blindness.

Previously, Light For the World has donated a host of equipment to Entebbe regional referral hospital and Mulago National Referral Hospital to support and strengthen the health sector I regard to eye health.   

Why care

Dr Muwanguzi estimates that out of 100 Ugandans about 30 people have eye problems. Of those about twenty-five are curable if diagnosed and treated early.  The remaining five grapple with recurrent eye conditions.

He says there is a need to care because vision impairment or poor eye health impacts the day to day activities.

To ensure proper equipment maintenance, Kasozi said Light for the World will soon start a program to train people who can repair eye health equipment.

The senior medical officer at the health Ministry, Dr Lydia Namwanje applauded Light for the World for the donation.

Dr. Namwanje urged the public to embrace eye care screening and treatment services offered at the hospital, noting that the benefits of eye health are immense.

“Good sight can enable you to work and generate income for yourself, family and the entire nation,” she notes.