Open AccessImproving eye care in the primary health care setting
Author(s) -
M de Wet,
Lindsay Ackermann
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
curationis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.408
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 2223-6279
pISSN - 0379-8577
DOI - 10.4102/curationis.v23i1.589
Subject(s) - eye care , referral , health care , nursing , medicine , primary care , quality (philosophy) , primary health care , service (business) , family medicine , optometry , business , environmental health , population , political science , philosophy , epistemology , marketing , law
One of the challenges facing primary health care in South Africa is the delivery of quality eye care to all South Africans. In this regard the role of the primary health care worker, as the first point of contact, is crucial. This paper reports on the problems primary health care workers experience in providing quality eye care in Region B of the Free State. Problems identified by those involved in the study include the cumbersome referral system, the unavailability of appropriate medicine at clinics, the insufficient knowledge of primary health care workers regarding eye conditions and the lack of communication between the various eye care service providers. Suggestions to address the problems identified included more in-service training of primary health care workers regarding eye conditions, liaison with NGO's providing eye care, decentralization of services and the establishment of an eye care committee in the region.