1996
Country Report of Thai Prevention of Blindness Programme
Watanee T. Jenchitr, M.D.
Ophthalmic Cell, The National Programme for
Prevention of Blindness and Control of Visual Impairment
Excerpt
from the article
In 1978
WHO Regional Office for the Southeast Asia recommendations came to Ministry
of Public Health of the Member States to take an urgent action against blindness
and promoting eye health. In Thailand, some ophthalmologists from rural
hospitals in the Division of Provincial Hospital grouped together in which
hereafter called unofficially Ophthalmic Cell. It had started a prompt action
against blindness prevention. National programme was gradually built up.
The first national seminar on restoration of eyesight or the curable blind
was conducted in Bangkok on 15-17 November 1978.The conclusions
from that seminar appeared as follows
1. Public Health
Ophthalmology is the central piece for developing a national plan.
2. The national policy
of primary health care the key strategy.
3. Eye care must
be provided in team work all levels.4. Technology
and skills transfer at all levels list be promoted.
5. Eye
care at the intermediary level (provincial hospital) should be given the
highest priority.
6. Existing resources within
the country must be utilised as efficiently as possible to maximize their
effectiveness.
In 1982, a National Committee on Prevention of Blindness was set up. The committee
started their action by recommending
1. To develop manpower
for tertiary and secondary eye centres with eye surgeon and eye nurse in a
ratio of 1: 2. Nineteen new eye units were in operation. The eye nurses practitioner
programme was very successful with excellent performance.
2. To strengthen eye centre
at provincial hospital (intermediary level) so they would be ready to support
the primary level, introducing ip primary eye care and training.
3. To start action programmes against cataract, glaucoma and eye injuries.
4. To link eye care elements with primary health care programmes.
The health workers at primary
level were already trained in basic health care with minimum knowledge relevant
to the eye. Primary eye care therefore, was rather easily introduced.
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