In a collaborative effort, Alupe University has partnered with the County Government of Busia, the office of the area Member of Parliament for Teso South (Hon. Mary Emase), and Medical and Educational Aid to Kenya (MEAK) to conduct a free medical camp.
Photo: Residents gather at Alupe Subcounty Hospital in Busia during the week-long free medical check-up camp.
MEAK is a non-governmental organization dedicated to providing specialized medical care and educational support in underserved regions of Kenya. The organization through the support of other partners has implemented the free medical services that runs from 1st to 6th December, 2025.
Photo: A MEAK medical team member assists a patient seeking eye care at Alupe Subcounty Hospital.
Residents from less privileged rural areas of Busia County have flocked to Alupe Subcounty Hospital, where local medical staff are joined by visiting specialists, including ophthalmologists and dentists, to offer vital medical services to hundreds of patients taking advantage of the free medicare.
Photo: A local resident from Angorom undergoing an eye examination.
Ms. Nargis Kamani, coordinator of the eye missions and surgical eye team for MEAK, has praised the community’s enthusiastic response to the free medical camp. She highlights that this partnership has significantly impacted the lives of many, particularly elderly individuals suffering from cataract-induced blindness.
Photo: Nargis Kamani dispensing reading glasses and eye drops during the Free medical Checkup camp
“In such rural setups, not many people are able to afford specialized services like cataract surgeries because of their social-economic back grounds, she says.
By second day, about 140 patients had sought dental attention. According to Benjamin Esira_ the Community Oral Health Officer, dental caries is most dominant at 65%, while periodontal diseases account for 60% of all the patients seen so far. He explains that dental caries_ is basically tooth decay, which occurs as a result of bacterial acids that eat out the tooth’s surface. Dr Esira associates this moderate high prevalence to poor oral health hygiene among people in rural areas.
Photo: A patient receiving an examination from Dr. Benjamin Esira at Alupe Subcounty Hospital
The persistence of untreated dental issues can be largely linked to the low incomes of the residents. This highlights the importance of partnerships with organizations like MEAK, the county government, parliamentary leaders, and educational institutions to develop research-based solutions accessible to the community.
Alupe University remains committed to community service through research and sustained advocacy on health issues, hence playing a vital role in raising awareness and fostering discussions about communal challenges. Reports from MEAK indicate that without such collaborations, the prevalence of cataracts in rural areas could be as high as 10% to 12%, with each procedure costing between Ksh 18,000 and Ksh 20,000. The success of the free medical camp is evident, with over 375 patients receiving eye-related medical interventions in less than 48 hours.
Equally, the Kenya National Oral Health Policy (2022-2030) acknowledges the high burden of oral disease and the urban-rural inequality in access to dental services, aiming to upscale preventive programs and improve access to care across the country.
By Victoria Magar & Savai Sabwa,
Alupe University Media