KAMPALA- In Uganda, optical medical services is one of those areas that has not been given keen attention yet most of the work we do as humans is inspired by this sense of sight or vision.
However, there are a few players that are getting to recognize and to appreciate this and have started to invest in the sector for both business and improvement in the lives of their communities for the betterment.
On a broader perspective, private companies such as Lapaire Africa have taken the bull by the horn and have set up grand plans and strategies to revolutionize the industry.
In a recent media briefing hosted at their offices in Kampala, Lapaire Africa a leading and fast growing optical enterprise announced their expansion derive in Uganda and neighboring countries.
Oliver Mwanko, Public Relations and Communications, Lapaire East Africa said that they secured equity funding worth USD. 3 million for their expansion drive in Africa with Uganda part of the mix.
“We are in six countries and exploring possible ways of growth and we have already have 14 branches in Uganda and looking at doubling that number before the end of year. At the beginning of the year, we opened up optical shops in Nansana, Makindye and Kireka and now focusing on strengthening our position with more across the country as a fastest growing brand in the continent.” Mwanko asserted.
He also noted that they started on various campaigns starting with Optometry partnerships with media houses, back to school, road safety campaigns and many others in check.
Mwanko, stated that according to the Ministry of Health( MoH) statistics over 3.5 million people have vision problems and 150, 000 are completely blind meaning they have a lot of work to do ahead, adding that most of these occurrences are caused by too much sunshine, accidents, dust and other causes though of they have late gadgets.
Mark Mwoki, Human Resources and Talent lead, Lapaire Africa stressed that as they are expanding they are going to create more jobs that will be taken up by those ones who are ready to join the team.
He highlighted that they are looking forward employing over 50 people who are young professionals to take up the various roles in sales, marketing, branch managers, optometrists and others and all that postings shared on various platforms both digital and
We have had job fairs and we have over the weekend, we worked with Alliance Francais de Kampala, ICT job affair and many others to come.
Kenneth Twinamastiko, Operation, we have 14 branches and hoping to expand across the country and we have had social impact our of 300,000 people and 70 percent, they had never had any eye test in their lives and have done free eye fests and given then glasses and see are doing a lot of awarenesses through the various campaigns about optometry so that we can give all the advise to every who comes to our shops.
We plan to have branches across the North, West and other areas and we’re have a big expansion plan and hope to expand across E.A in Tanzania with 80 branches across Africa that is over 200 positions.
Jackline, Baboneraawo, an Optometrist, at Lapaire announced that they are going to celebrate the Optometry week from 17- 23, March where they will carrying out free eye tests for those that will be available.
She also noted that out of 10 people they examine at least 5 have disorders and the trend is increasing due people’s life style and other engagements.
Further more, she added that they are very few students who are not aware about this line of work and profession and since they have only two training Institutions which are Makerere University and in Jinja and for that matter they are going to engage with government so that they can see how to prioritize this.
