Mwangi Nyawira, Zondervan Marcia, Bascaran Covadonga
International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
Kenya Medical Training College/Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya.
Hum Resour Health. 2017 Mar 14;15(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s12960-017-0196-1.
There is an extreme health workforce shortage in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa. Shortage of eye care workers impedes effective implementation of prevention of blindness programs. The World Health Organization has identified education, partnership, leadership, financing, and policy as intertwined interventions that are critical to resolving this crisis on the long term.
The VISION 2020 LINK between the College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in the United Kingdom aims to increase the quantity and quality of eye care training in East, Central, and Southern Africa through a focus on five strategic areas: fellowship examination for ophthalmologists, training the trainers, curriculum development for residents in ophthalmology and ophthalmic clinical officers, continuous professional development (CPD), and mentoring program for young ophthalmologists. This study examined how education and partnership can be linked to improve eye care, through an evaluation of this north-south link based on its own targets and established frameworks to guide north-south links.
An exploratory qualitative case study design was used. Twenty-nine link representatives were recruited through purposive sampling and snowballing. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule that incorporated the components of a successful link from an existing framework. Documents pertaining to the link were also examined. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.
The findings revealed that the perception to the contribution of the link to eye care in the region is generally positive. Process indicators showed that the targets in three strategic objectives of the link have been achieved. Framework-based evaluation also showed that the link is successful. Mutual learning and development of friendships were the most commonly identified success factors. Inadequate awareness of the link by college members is a key challenge.
The study concludes that the link is active and evolving and has achieved most of its targets. Further developments should be directed to influence health system strengthening in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa more strategically. The study recommends expansion of the scope of collaboration to involve multiple health system building blocks.
东部、中部和南部非洲存在极端的卫生人力短缺问题。眼保健工作者的短缺阻碍了预防失明项目的有效实施。世界卫生组织已确定教育、伙伴关系、领导力、融资和政策是相互交织的干预措施，对长期解决这一危机至关重要。
东部、中部和南部非洲眼科学院与英国皇家眼科医学院之间的“2020 视觉”项目旨在通过关注五个战略领域来提高东部、中部和南部非洲眼保健培训的数量和质量：眼科医生的 fellowship 考试、培训培训人员、眼科住院医师和眼科临床官员的课程开发、持续专业发展（CPD）以及年轻眼科医生的指导计划。本研究通过基于其自身目标和既定框架来指导南北联系的评估，研究了教育和伙伴关系如何相互关联以改善眼保健。
采用探索性定性案例研究设计。通过目的抽样和滚雪球抽样招募了 29 名联系代表。使用半结构化访谈提纲进行面对面访谈，该提纲纳入了现有框架中成功联系的组成部分。还审查了与该联系相关的文件。采用主题分析法进行数据分析。
研究结果表明，人们对该联系对该地区眼保健的贡献的看法总体上是积极的。过程指标显示，该联系的三个战略目标中的目标已经实现。基于框架的评估也表明该联系是成功的。相互学习和建立友谊是最常被提及的成功因素。学院成员对该联系的认识不足是一个关键挑战。
该研究得出结论，该联系活跃且不断发展，已实现其大部分目标。未来的发展应更具战略性地致力于影响东部、中部和南部非洲的卫生系统加强。该研究建议扩大合作范围，纳入多个卫生系统组成部分。
