Taking eye health into the heart of communities

Posted on: Monday, October 20th, 2025

Author: Daniel Cartwright, Senior Communications Officer, CBM UK

The members of a Local Transformation Unit are sat down outside, listening to one member who is stood up.

At CBM UK, we believe in taking eye health right into the heart of communities. That’s why our new project with our partner IcFEM in Bungoma County, Kenya is making it easier to diagnose, refer, and treat people living across the county. A team recently visited the project to see how investing in local outreach is driving lasting change.

A few days into my recent trip to Kenya I met Rodah. Rodah works as a Community Health Volunteer, going door to door to find out who is experiencing health challenges, as well as giving information to members of the community on eye health and where they can get support. She told us her motivation: “is just to see people in good health and able to do their work without much (of a) challenge.”

I saw first-hand the difference this work is making, meeting Benedetta who Rodah identified as part of an outreach. Benedetta was able to have life-changing surgery at the CBM-supported Dreamland Mission Hospital, which is also run by IcFEM. Without someone like Rodah identifying and referring patients, Benedetta would still be blind today.

Rodah, wearing green, smiles at the camera.

But Rodah is not working alone – she is part of a huge network of volunteers making change across Bungoma County. IcFEM has established grassroots groups called Local Transformation Units which work alongside local communities to promote community development and economic empowerment. We met with one Local Transformation Unit and heard about how, thanks to the support of the project, they’re embedding eye health and disability inclusion into their work.

By the end of the project in 2027, we hope to reach 30,000 people through Local Transformation Units – raising awareness of eye health issues, identifying treatable conditions, and referring on for further support.

Our work in rural western Kenya is showing what can be achieved when we work with local volunteers to improve access to healthcare and holistic support for people living with disabilities. The project is still in its early stages, but it was eye-opening to see how change is already transforming lives and why it’s important that we invest in a better future for all.