Original Research
Improving eye care in the primary health care setting
Curationis | Vol 23, No 1 | a589 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v23i1.589
| © 2000 M de Wet, L Ackermann
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 27 September 2000 | Published: 27 September 2000
Submitted: 27 September 2000 | Published: 27 September 2000
About the author(s)
M de Wet, Department of sociology University of the Orange Free State, South AfricaL Ackermann, Department of sociology University of the Orange Free State, South Africa
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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, decentralisation of services and the establishment of an eye care committee in the region.
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Crossref Citations
1. Evidence for integrating eye health into primary health care in Africa: a health systems strengthening approach
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BMC Health Services Research vol: 13 issue: 1 year: 2013
doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-13-102