Vision is a fundamental part of a child’s development, yet many children in Kenya and beyond struggle with undiagnosed eye conditions that impact their learning and quality of life. Shadrack Muma, an optometrist, researcher, and the Country Coordinator for Let Our Children See (LOCS), has dedicated his career to ensuring that children and communities across the country have access to quality eye care. His work is not just about treating eye conditions—it’s about transforming lives through education, awareness, and sustainable solutions.
During a recent meeting with Ruth Ngaruiya, Programs Manager for Africa at KnowTheGlow (KTG), Shadrack shared his inspiring journey and the impactful work of LOCS.
Shadrack’s passion for optometry led him to study at Masinde Muliro University. Apart from his work with LOCS, where he now leads initiatives to establish vision centers and conduct school-based eye screenings, he also works with the Africa Eye Institute, where he has been involved in groundbreaking research and community outreach programs.
Shadrack mentioned that LOCS is committed to providing comprehensive eye care services, particularly in underserved communities. By setting up vision centers across different counties, LOCS ensures that children receive proper eye examinations and, if needed, corrective interventions such as eyeglasses. Their approach involves subdividing counties into smaller regions, screening all schools within a sub-county before expanding to another, and overcoming bureaucratic challenges to ensure sustainability. He highlighted that LOCS not only provides awareness but also conducts comprehensive screenings, proper education for caregivers, and sustained follow-ups to ensure affected children receive the necessary medical attention.
One of the key challenges Shadrack highlighted during the meeting is the lack of awareness and resources for childhood eye conditions, particularly in pediatric populations. LOCS has been working tirelessly to address this gap by conducting school-based screenings and community outreach programs. Their innovative Vision Equity Program, for example, equips schools with vision charts, enabling students to self-assess and report any issues to their teachers. This cyclical approach ensures that new generations of students continue to benefit from the program, creating a lasting impact.
Shadrack emphasized the importance of early detection and intervention, particularly for conditions like retinoblastoma, which KnowTheGlow also focuses on. He praised KnowTheGlow’s efforts to raise awareness about The Glow in a child’s eye—a symptom that can indicate many serious eye conditions. The two organizations explored possible ways to collaborate, including sharing stories, and integrating KnowTheGlow’s resources into LOCS’s outreach programs.
As KTG and LOCS move forward, the collaboration holds great promise for transforming pediatric eye health awareness in Kenya. By combining LOCS’ grassroots outreach with KTG’s digital and educational expertise, these two organizations aim to create a sustainable impact, ensuring more children receive the eye care they need.
With aligned missions and a shared commitment to children’s vision health, these connections have the potential to make a lasting difference in the fight against preventable blindness.
Stay tuned for more updates on LOCS work and the opportunity to give more children the gift of sight.
