Today's Headlines
- Lessons and Implications of the Confirmation of Charges Against Kenya's 'Ocampo Four'
- Finance Minister Quits Over ICC Charges
- Shortage of HIV Test Kits Raises Concerns
- Living On the Edge in Turkana Region
- Ali Breaks Silence, Describes Delight At Acquittal
- Uhuru, Ruto Eligible for Presidency - CIC
- Tea Sector Posts Record Earnings in 2011
- Resettle IDPs, Urges Annan
- Uhuru, Muthaura Have Done the Right Thing
- All Displaced People Should Return Home
- Concern Raised As Parents Shun Schools in Poll Violence Hotspots
- Ruling On IEBC Hiring in February
- Country Working Towards Conditions Needed for Direct Flights to U.S.
- How ICC Claimed Kibaki's Lieutenants
- Geothermal Project to Receive Sh10 Billion Funding Boost
- Five Million to Get IDs Before Elections
- Speed Up Building Port
- Uhuru and Muthaura Did Well to Quit Posts
- A Full Plate Awaits Githae
- Clashes Continue in Moyale
- Baraza Case to Be Heard Monday
- Two Firms in Joint Venture to Drill for Oil Near Lodwar
- Exit Uhuru, Muthaura
- ICC Charges Hound Uhuru Out of Treasury
- Consumers Grow Despite Inflation
- Poor Relations Between Banks Blamed for Cash Shortages
- Fish Prices Up As Vegetable Supply Dwindles
- Consumers to Pay More for Milk and Bread As Prices Rise
- Kibaki Tasks Ex-Dar CJ to Lead Probe in Kenya
- Mombasa Port Cargo Congestion Forces Three-Month Fees Waiver
Chris Musumba
8 September 2010
Nairobi — A couple of years ago, Julius Wambua dropped his keys and asked his daughter Christine Ndunge to pick them up. But she struggled to spot them.
Wambua could not believe it, so he dropped the bunch of keys again and instructed Christine to pick them up. But still, she couldn't spot them. "It is then that I realised that my daughter had a problem with her eyesight. She was partially blind," said Wambua.
Then, Wambua did not know that Christine could not go out and play with other children since more often than not she stumbled on everything in her path. "She could not see properly. It is then that we decided to take her to the Kikuyu Eye Hospital for check-up," said Christine's mother, Jane Mumo.
Last April, doctors discovered her eyes had a cataract that required immediate surgery to correct and restore her eyesight. But for a family struggling to make ends meet, raising Sh40,000 for the operation was a huge challenge.
"I had no money. But then, I saw the hand of God. While still pondering on what to do, Dr Daniel Mundia of Kikuyu Eye Hospital asked me to fill in a form after which he told me everything would be catered for. The operation would be free," said Wambua.
What Christine's parents did not know was that the hospital did not waive the cost of the operation. Rather, the Standard Chartered Bank, through its global initiative, "Seeing is Believing", which aims at eradicating avoidable blindness, was footing the bill.
Run for sight
The bank, which sponsors the annual Nairobi International Marathon, uses donations and registration fees from the race to support the fight against blindness among children below nine years.
On Wednesday, Christine joined the SCB Nairobi International Marathon family in launching this year's race in which more than 16,000 participants are expected to compete. Registration for the October 31 race closes on October 20.
Sports Minister Paul Otuoma, StanChart CEO Richard Etemesi and Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat presided over the launch in Nairobi where a prize purse of Sh1.5 million shillings was unveiled.
Etemesi noted that the race, themed "Run for sight", aims to raise over Sh20 million for the project. Last year's event raised over Sh14 million, which has been used in, among other things, upgrading and expanding Kapsabet, Kapenguria and Iten hospitals.
