Inmates get free eye treatment

Rwanda Military Hospital has launched a 42-day outreach programme, offering free eye treatment and healthcare to inmates in various prisons across the country.The treatment follows reports of increased optical complaints among the inmates.Dr. Ben Karenzi, the Director of the Rwanda Military Hospital, said that there are many eye problems some of which can lead to blindness if not treated early.“Eye health problems are a general public issue that needs to be addressed even in the Rwanda Correctional Services. With our team of medical experts, we are going to diagnose and treat the prisoners with some of these eye issues,” he said.Karenzi stated that prisoners with serious eye complications will be transferred to Rwanda Military Hospital for surgery and further treatment or follow up.He noted that another general public health issue is dental diseases, which he said will also be dealt with after treating eye diseases.Dr Alex Nyemazi, an Ophthalmologist with the hospital, said earlier they had estimated to treat slightly over 3,000 prisoners, but according to the assessment yesterday, the number will be much bigger than that.“On the first day of the outreach, we have had over 100 prisoners and more are still in need of treatment at the first prison we’ve been to; Kigali central prison. We are planning on visiting at least fourteen prisons country wide,” he said.Nyemazi added that some patients will be operated upon, adding that on the first day, over 15 were confirmed to be in need of cataract surgery.He said some of the common eye problems in prisons are diabetic rhinutus, vitamin A deficiency which is caused by poor nutrition, allergies and old people with poor sight who need eye glasses.

National

Inmates get free eye treatment