scholarly journals Primary health care facility readiness to implement primary eye care in Nigeria: equipment, infrastructure, service delivery and health management information systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Aghaji ◽  
Helen E. D. Burchett ◽  
Ngozi Oguego ◽  
Shaffa Hameed ◽  
Clare Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Management Information Systems ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Management Information ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Primary Eye Care ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health Management Information Systems

Abstract Background Over two-thirds of Africans have no access to eye care services. To increase access, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends integrating eye care into primary health care, and the WHO Africa region recently developed a package for primary eye care. However, there are limited data on the capacities needed for delivery, to guide policymakers and implementers on the feasibility of integration. The overall purpose of this study was to assess the technical capacity of the health system at primary level to deliver the WHO primary eye care package. Findings with respect to service delivery, equipment and health management information systems (HMIS) are presented in this paper. Methods This was a mixed-methods, cross sectional feasibility study in Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods included a desk review of relevant Nigerian policies; a survey of 48 primary health facilities in six districts randomly selected using two stage sampling, and semi-structured interviews with six supervisors and nine purposively selected facility heads. Quantitative study tools included observational checklists and questionnaires. Survey data were analysed descriptively using STATA V.15.1 (Statcorp, Texas). Differences between health centres and health posts were analysed using the z-test statistic. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis assisted by Open Code Software V.4.02. Results There are enabling national health policies for eye care, but no policy specifically for primary eye care. 85% of facilities had no medication for eye conditions and one in eight had no vitamin A in stock. Eyecare was available in < 10% of the facilities. The services delivered focussed on maternal and child health, with low attendance by adults aged over 50 years with over 50% of facilities reporting ≤10 attendances per year per 1000 catchment population. No facility reported data on patients with eye conditions in their patient registers. Conclusion A policy for primary eye care is needed which aligns with existing eye health policies. There are currently substantial capacity gaps in service delivery, equipment and data management which will need to be addressed if eye care is to be successfully integrated into primary care in Nigeria.

scholarly journals A Dive into Problems of National Health Management Information Systems (NHMIS) in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 237-240
Author(s):  
Oluwatuyi Mayowa Funmilayo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Management Information Systems ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Management Information ◽  
Health Institution ◽  
Health Management Information Systems

NHMIS in Nigeria is a design established to collect, store, process and manage health care data in an effective and efficient manner in such a way that it will enhance health care delivery. NHMIS involves collection, storage and the transfer of a patient’s EMedical record, An health institution supporting health care policy decisions. National Health Management Information Systems. (NHMIS) promotes efficacious and valid services within hospital settings. NHMIS was introduced in Nigeria precisely 2006 which encompass all health information system. The achievement of NHMIS becomes a mirage due to challenges and problems faced with by health institutions. Be that as it may, it's imperative to have knowledge about determinants for successful implementation to make sure there is qualitative NHMIS. The successfulness of the implementation process of NHMIS is reliant on factors ranging from Technological, personnel and Institutional factors. Any problem relating to heath institutions if pointed out should avert poor implementation in the long run. Thus, this article will review problems of health institution factors affecting the efficacy of NHMIS while considering plans needed to forestall problems earlier identified.

scholarly journals The Technical Feasibility of Integrating Primary Eye Care Into Primary Health Care Systems in Nigeria: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Aghaji ◽  
Helen Burchett ◽  
Shaffa Hameed ◽  
Jayne Webster ◽  
Clare Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Technical Feasibility ◽  
Primary Eye Care ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Sub Saharan

BACKGROUND Approximately 90% of the 253 million blind or visually impaired people worldwide live in low- and middle-income countries. Lack of access to eye care is why most people remain or become blind. The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) recently launched a primary eye care (PEC) package for sub-Saharan Africa—the WHO-AFRO PEC package—for integration into the health system at the primary health care (PHC) level. This has the potential to increase access to eye care, but feasibility studies are needed to determine the extent to which the health system has the capacity to deliver the package in PHC facilities. OBJECTIVE Our objective is to assess the technical feasibility of integrating the WHO-AFRO PEC package in PHC facilities in Nigeria. METHODS This study has several components, which include (1) a literature review of PEC in sub-Saharan Africa, (2) a Delphi exercise to reach consensus among experts regarding the technical complexity of the WHO-AFRO PEC package and the capacities needed to deliver it in PHC facilities, (3) development of PEC technical capacity assessment tools, and (4) data collection, including facility surveys and semistructured interviews with PHC staff and their supervisors and village health workers to determine the capacities available to deliver PEC in PHC facilities. Analysis will identify opportunities and the capacity gaps that need to be addressed to deliver PEC. RESULTS Consensus was reached among experts regarding the technical complexity of the WHO-AFRO PEC package and the capacities needed to deliver it as part of PHC. Quantitative tools (ie, structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and observation checklists) and topic guides based on agreed-upon technical capacities have been developed and relevant stakeholders have been identified. Surveys in 48 PHC facilities and interviews with health professionals and supervisors have been undertaken. Capacity gaps are being analyzed. CONCLUSIONS This study will determine the capacity of PHC centers to deliver the WHO-AFRO PEC package as an integral part of the health system in Nigeria, with identification of capacity gaps. Although capacity assessments have to be context specific, the tools and findings will assist policy makers and health planners in Nigeria and similar settings, who are considering implementing the package, in making informed choices. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/17263

scholarly journals Evaluating Eye Health Care Services Progress Towards VISION 2020 Goals in Gurage Zone, Ethiopia.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiliksew Teshome ◽  
Omar Salamanca ◽  
Alana Calise ◽  
Jibat Gemida Soboka
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Catchment Area ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Vision 2020 ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Primary Eye Care ◽  
Eye Health

Abstract Background Ethiopia signed the VISION 2020 Global Declaration and launched its eye health program in 2002. Since then, there has been limited systematic and comprehensive evaluation of the progress towards VISION 2020 goals in Ethiopia.Purpose To evaluate Gurage Zone progress towards VISION 2020 targets and process indicators.Method An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among all public and private eye health care facilities in the Gurage Zone within the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People Region of Ethiopia. The evaluation protocol was adopted from the VISION 2020 situational analysis data collection tool. We used this structure to evaluate progress in terms of human resources, infrastructure, and service delivery at the Zonal Health Office and facility level.Result At the time of the study, the Gurage Zone had a 1.7 million catchment area population. There was a total of five eye care centers, of which one was established by a Non-Governmental Organization. Three of these facilities were secondary eye care centers with an operating theater and two of them were primary eye care centers. At the zonal level, there is no survey data available on the prevalence of blindness. There was no systemic evaluation of VISION 2020 process indicators. The budget allocation specific to eye health care was less than 0.7% of the total budget of the office. The human resources for eye health in the catchment area were: one ophthalmologist, two cataract surgeons, five optometrists, and 12 ophthalmic nurses, which is below the VISION 2020 targets for human resources for eye health. In terms of equipment, neither primary eye care center had a slit lamp biomicroscope, and two of the three secondary eye care centers did not have intraocular pressure (IOP) measuring equipment. Only one secondary eye care center was providing glaucoma surgical services, and no center provided either emergency or elective pediatric surgery. The cataract surgical rate (CSR) determined by the study was 1967.ConclusionGurage Zone had not achieved VISION 2020 goals in terms of critical human resources and service delivery. We recommend that the Zonal Health Office carries out a focused and baseline evaluation of eye health care service achievements.

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