Integrating Primary Healthcare in Community Ophthalmology in Nigeria

Abstract

Community ophthalmology aims to bridge the gap between specialized eye care services and primary healthcare in underserved regions. In Nigeria, a significant proportion of the population suffers from preventable and treatable eye diseases due to limited access to ophthalmic services. Integrating primary healthcare into community ophthalmology provides a cost-effective and scalable approach to delivering eye care services at the grassroots level. This paper explores the rationale, benefits, and challenges of integrating primary healthcare in community ophthalmology in Nigeria, analyzing the feasibility, implementation strategies, and the impact on public health outcomes. Through empirical studies and experiments conducted in various communities, the research highlights the effectiveness of primary healthcare workers in identifying, managing, and referring ophthalmic conditions. The results indicate that training and deploying primary healthcare workers for eye care significantly improve early diagnosis and reduce preventable blindness. The study concludes by recommending policy interventions, enhanced funding, and technological innovations to support this integration for sustainable healthcare delivery.