Nairobi, 30 October 2026 – Parents and caregivers are being urged to limit children’s recreational screen time during the December school holiday and encourage more outdoor play, as Nairobi City County steps up efforts to prevent avoidable childhood eye problems through community-based eye health education.
Eye specialists warn that prolonged use of phones, tablets and televisions can contribute to eye strain, dry eyes and short-sightedness among children. At the same time, environmental factors such as dust, smoke, pollution and overcrowded living conditions can increase the risk of eye irritation and allergic reactions.
The call comes as Nairobi City County, in partnership with the Sight for Kids Programme at Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital, trains Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to identify common eye conditions, educate families and support timely referrals for treatment.
Speaking during a training session at California Resource Centre in Kamukunji, the Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Health, Wellness and Nutrition, Ms. Suzanne Silantoi said early detection remains critical in protecting children’s vision.
“We want Community Health Promoters to identify eye conditions early so children can receive treatment before problems worsen. This is part of our broader Early Childhood Development agenda to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow, learn and thrive. We also encourage parents to limit screen time and give children more opportunities to play outdoors.”
The programme will train all 7,820 Community Health Promoters across Nairobi in two phases. The first cohort of 3,730 CHPs from Dagoretti, Kamukunji, Embakasi and Lang’ata sub-counties is currently undergoing training, with the second phase scheduled in the coming months.
The initiative supports the Nairobi City County Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme, which seeks to ensure children receive the health, nutrition, care and learning support they need to reach their full potential. Through regular household visits, CHPs serve as a critical link between families and health services.
“We know that early screening, referral and treatment lead to better outcomes for eye health,” said Dr Carol Ngunu, Director of Preventive and Promotive Health Services.
The training is being implemented through the global Sight for Kids programme, a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson Vision, Lions Clubs International Foundation and Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital.
According to Tanvi Shah, Sight for Kids Chairperson and Head of Optometry Services at Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital, the training equips CHPs to recognise warning signs that often go unnoticed.
“We are training Community Health Promoters to identify the signs and symptoms of eye conditions, provide guidance to families and support referrals for specialised care. We also want to address stigma around eye health and expand access to screening services in schools.”
She noted that common conditions affecting children include uncorrected refractive errors, allergic eye diseases, congenital conditions such as cataracts and retinal disorders, as well as injuries that are not treated in time.
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According to Evelyne Mbogori, Nairobi County Eye Services Coordinator, increasing screen use among children has become a growing concern, particularly during school holidays when many spend long hours indoors.
“Parents need to be intentional about managing screen time. Excessive exposure can lead to headaches, eye strain and dry eyes. Children also need opportunities to spend time outdoors because sunlight and active play support healthy development.”
Health officials say delayed detection remains one of the greatest threats to children’s eye health. Many vision problems can be corrected or effectively managed if identified early, helping children learn, participate in school and reach their full potential.
The WHO estimates that 19 million children worldwide are visually impaired, 12 million of them from refractive errors that can be diagnosed and corrected, and 1.4 million are irreversibly blind. In Kenya, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness estimates that about 86,000 children have uncorrected vision problems and learn about half as much as classmates who see well.
At the community level, CHPs are expected to play a key role because of their close and trusted relationships with households.
“Communities are at the heart of every successful health programme,” said Judy Macharia, Head of Community Health Services, Nairobi City County. “Health services and information must reach households, because that is where health decisions are made every day.”
For many CHPs, the training is already strengthening their ability to identify conditions that might otherwise be missed.
“The training has helped us understand common eye symptoms and what to look out for, especially among young children, as well as prepare us to eliminate stigma around kids wearing glasses,” said Christopher Kilatia, a Community Health Promoter from Embakasi Central. “We are seeing more children spending time on phones and gadgets, and parents need more information on how to manage that.”
By equipping Community Health Promoters with practical eye health knowledge, Nairobi City County and its partners aim to bring eye care closer to families, strengthen referrals and ensure more children have the healthy vision they need to learn, play and thrive.
