Authors: Courtright, P.¹; Seneadza, A.²; Mathenge, W.³; Eliah, E.⁴; Lewallen, S.⁴

Source: Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Volume 104, Number 5, July 2010 , pp. 361-367(7)

Publisher: Maney Publishing

Abstract:

The models for addressing the delivery of an eye-care service in sub-Saharan Africa have seen considerable revision in the last 30 years, and the on-going challenges, as well as the future needs, will probably require many more changes and new systems. There is a need to assess the different models that are currently employed, in order to ensure that all potential contributions to the elimination of avoidable blindness are used; the evolving concept of primary eye care (PEC) requires such assessment. For the current review, the published literature on eye care provided by general front-line healthworkers was screened for articles that provided evidence of the impact of such PEC on the general delivery of eye care in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 103 relevant articles detected, only three provided evidence of the effectiveness of PEC and the authors of all three of these articles suggested that such eye care was not meeting the needs or expectations of the target populations, the trainers, or programmes of eye care. Among the main problems identified were a lack of a clear definition of the scope of practice for PEC, the need for clarifying the specific skills that a front-line healthworker could perform correctly, and the changing needs and expectations for the delivery of an eye-care service in Africa. If PEC is to become adequately grounded in Africa, the generation of further evidence of the effectiveness and limitations of such care would be a prudent move.

Document Type: Review Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/136485910X12743554760225

Affiliations: 1: Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology, Good Samaritan Foundation, P.O. Box 2254, Moshi, Tanzania. pcourtright@kcco.net 2: Eye Department, Kitwe Central Hospital, P.O. Box 20969, Kitwe, Zambia 3: Fred Hollows Foundation East Africa, P.O. Box 8683-00200, Nairobi, Kenya 4: Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology, Good Samaritan Foundation, P.O. Box 2254, Moshi, Tanzania

Publication date: 2010-07-01

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• In 2012 Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology changed its name to Pathogens of Global Health to reflect changes and developments in the subject area. View the issues of Pathogens of Global Health available online..
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