Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Model
Our model takes an inclusive, integrated approach to eye health care.
PLANNING
Choosing a location and the partner hospital
▪ We select a location with a high prevalence of blindness
▪ We choose locations with lower socio-economic status compared to the national average
▪ We find a local hospital with a compatible vision, mission and value
▪ We select a location with a high prevalence of blindness
▪ We choose locations with lower socio-economic status compared to the national average
▪ We find a local hospital with a compatible vision, mission and value
Assessment and action planning with the partner hospitals
▪ We conduct a quality audit using predefined standards
▪ We develop an action plan with the local partner to bridge the identified gaps
▪ We focus on delivery of quality eye care services to all, regardless of their ability to pay
▪ We conduct a quality audit using predefined standards
▪ We develop an action plan with the local partner to bridge the identified gaps
▪ We focus on delivery of quality eye care services to all, regardless of their ability to pay
Defining the project area
▪ We collaborate with the local partner hospital
▪ We determine service provision areas based on density of population, the access to health services, the availability of transportation, etc.
▪ We aim to reach 100,000 to 500,000 people per project
▪ We collaborate with the local partner hospital
▪ We determine service provision areas based on density of population, the access to health services, the availability of transportation, etc.
▪ We aim to reach 100,000 to 500,000 people per project
IMPLEMENTATION
Establishing vision centres
▪ Vision centres are established in strategic locations within the project area
▪ Vision centres bring primary eye care services closer to communities. Services include comprehensive eye examinations, dispensing glasses and referrals, if needed
▪ Vision centres act as a link between communities and hospitals
▪ Vision centres are established in strategic locations within the project area
▪ Vision centres bring primary eye care services closer to communities. Services include comprehensive eye examinations, dispensing glasses and referrals, if needed
▪ Vision centres act as a link between communities and hospitals
Recruiting community health workers (CHWs)
▪ We recruit CHWs from centrally located villages within the project catchment areas
▪ We target our recruitment strategies towards women
▪ Target communities recognize CHWs as part of their community, which results in high acceptance and trust
▪ We recruit CHWs from centrally located villages within the project catchment areas
▪ We target our recruitment strategies towards women
▪ Target communities recognize CHWs as part of their community, which results in high acceptance and trust
Training community health workers (CHWs)
▪ CHWs undergo a rigorous training program based on a curriculum developed by Operation Eyesight
▪ CHWs are trained to identify eye conditions, conduct surveys, and deliver health education activities
▪ As part of their training, CHWs attend both lectures and hands-on training session
▪ CHWs undergo a rigorous training program based on a curriculum developed by Operation Eyesight
▪ CHWs are trained to identify eye conditions, conduct surveys, and deliver health education activities
▪ As part of their training, CHWs attend both lectures and hands-on training session
Conducting door-to-door surveys
▪ CHWs conduct door-to-door surveys, covering the entire population of the project area
▪ They conduct visual acuity tests and screen all community members for eye conditions
▪ They assess the health status of each member of the community, including pregnant women, post-natal mothers and children below five years
▪ CHWs conduct door-to-door surveys, covering the entire population of the project area
▪ They conduct visual acuity tests and screen all community members for eye conditions
▪ They assess the health status of each member of the community, including pregnant women, post-natal mothers and children below five years
Organizing screening camps
▪ CHWs organize screening camps in centrally located villages. At these outreach camps, staff from our partner hospitals re-examine those who were identified with eye conditions during the door-to-door survey
▪ Those who are diagnosed with minor conditions are treated in the camps, and people with more serious eye conditions are referred for further care
▪ Screening camps are also conducted in schools within the project areas
▪ CHWs organize screening camps in centrally located villages. At these outreach camps, staff from our partner hospitals re-examine those who were identified with eye conditions during the door-to-door survey
▪ Those who are diagnosed with minor conditions are treated in the camps, and people with more serious eye conditions are referred for further care
▪ Screening camps are also conducted in schools within the project areas
Ensuring continuity of care
▪ CHWs ensure that referred patients visit hospitals for further diagnosis and treatment, including surgery if required
▪ They counsel the patients and their families so that nobody is left behind including women and girls
▪ They ensure proper post-surgery/treatment follow-up with the patients as per the medical advice given
▪ CHWs ensure that referred patients visit hospitals for further diagnosis and treatment, including surgery if required
▪ They counsel the patients and their families so that nobody is left behind including women and girls
▪ They ensure proper post-surgery/treatment follow-up with the patients as per the medical advice given
Organizing health education activities and empowering communities
▪ CHWs develop action plans based on the door-to-door survey findings
▪ Conduct health education sessions on relevant topics such as eye health, nutrition, personal hygiene, etc.
▪ CHWs coordinate with other primary health care providers and ensure pre- and post-natal care and immunization of children below five years
▪ CHWs develop action plans based on the door-to-door survey findings
▪ Conduct health education sessions on relevant topics such as eye health, nutrition, personal hygiene, etc.
▪ CHWs coordinate with other primary health care providers and ensure pre- and post-natal care and immunization of children below five years
MAINTENANCE
Monitoring and evaluation
▪ The project teams continuously monitor progress based on the monitoring and evaluation framework established for each project
▪ Evaluation of projects are conducted by external expert agencies and lessons learned are incorporated into new project
▪ The project teams continuously monitor progress based on the monitoring and evaluation framework established for each project
▪ Evaluation of projects are conducted by external expert agencies and lessons learned are incorporated into new project
Declaring villages avoidable blindness-free
▪ CHWs conduct complete door-to-door surveys again towards the end of project duration to ensure that there are no backlog cases
▪ Project team ensures through relevant studies that the target communities have taken ownership of their eye health
▪ Villages/communities where all the treatable cases have been treated successfully and there is no more risk of anyone losing sight needlessly are declared as avoidable blindness-free in public functions
▪ CHWs conduct complete door-to-door surveys again towards the end of project duration to ensure that there are no backlog cases
▪ Project team ensures through relevant studies that the target communities have taken ownership of their eye health
▪ Villages/communities where all the treatable cases have been treated successfully and there is no more risk of anyone losing sight needlessly are declared as avoidable blindness-free in public functions
Ensuring sustainability
▪ We ensure sustainability of our project results by involving local stakeholders from the beginning of the project
▪ Our vision centres are designed to become self-sustainable so that they can continue to deliver quality eye care services beyond the project duration
▪ We ensure sustainability of our project results by involving local stakeholders from the beginning of the project
▪ Our vision centres are designed to become self-sustainable so that they can continue to deliver quality eye care services beyond the project duration