Interview: Dr Kibata Githeko, Kenya

Why are you working with The Fred Hollows Foundation in Nakuru?

I came to Nakuru through discussions we had regarding the burden of disease in children and how there's such a scarcity of care. We wanted to really try and do something about it and build capacity locally.

Is there a difference between operating on adults and children and why can't local surgeons conduct Kipar's surgery?

If you read most paediatric text books there is always a line that says that children's eyes are not small adults, they are very different in their anatomy, surgical techniques and in their post operative care. It's very different and unless you've had training to do that then you actually end up doing more harm than good.

The average ophthalmologist would probably have never operated on a child during their training so it would be very difficult to expect them to come out to a centre like Nakuru and start to do routine paediatric work.

I have been privileged to have been able to work with children for quite a while and also I've received specialty training in children and really I just have a passion for these kids, and there are not many of us in this country and that's why I have to travel to Nakuru.

Can you tell us about Kipar's case?

Kipar comes from a very deprived area. When you are living in such a harsh environment, anyone who becomes a burden will just be left out. They just don't have the resources and the capacity to put that extra time in. It really is a wild environment.

Kipar has bilateral cataracts and these are most likely congenital, meaning that he was born with them. They are only going to get worse and really to be blind in a place like [where he lives] means death. The statistics show that mortality for children who are blind is so much higher. That's what would have happened.

Already the environment is against you, so if you can't see you just become ostracised and that's the end of you. With a cataract operation and maybe some glasses, who knows where this child will be now?

What do you think will happen to Kipar now?

Kipar may live for 70 years - and just because someone gave a few dollars and we are able to do this operation. It saves this guy and his family because the child affects the whole village. They will see that blindness is not a curse or some ‘spirit' thing, it's a disease - and that begins to change communities and cultures. Just because someone, somewhere offered a few dollars to be able to do this.

How can people in Australia help you restore sight in Kenya?

There are opportunities all around to help, but I think the difficulty comes in knowing how to help. I think that's where people like The Fred Hollows Foundation come in - because they're here on the ground... and so if someone wants to give, give Fred Hollows the opportunity to be here.

Go here to read Kipar's remarkable story in full.