Road safety programme launched in Kenya

Essilor and international oil company Total have launched a pilot programme to increase road safety by improving poor vision in Kenya.

Over six months, the Vision Journey programme will bring vision care to road users at service stations run by local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Total.

Once the pilot is complete, a larger rollout across Kenya will be considered that will include ‘Good Vision Corners’ at Total service stations to provide eye screenings and equipment for vision correction and protection against glare. 

The two companies explained that access to vision care and public awareness of eye health is limited in Kenya with one optometrist for every 135,000 people.

The programme aims to promote road safety by utilising Essilor’s knowledge of vision solutions and reaching drivers through Total and local NGO service stations.

President and chief operating officer of Essilor International, Laurent Vacherot, said: “This public-private collaboration between Essilor, Total and local NGOs in Kenya is unique. In line with Essilor’s mission of improving lives by improving sight, it leverages the strengths of two very different industries to improve vision health for road users.”