Primary+Eye+Care+and+Community+Participation%0d%0aDr.+Saman+Wimalasundera+MBBS%2c+DO%2c+PhD+Senior+lecturer+in+community+medicine+%26+community+ophthalmologist+Community+Ophthalmology+center+Department+of+community+medicine+P.O.Box+70%2c+Galle+Sri+Lanka%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cPrimary+eye+care+and+community+participation%0d%0aDelivery+of+primary+eye+care+has+its+specific+roles+and+targets+in+the+community+and+good+community+participation+is+an+essential+component+in+the+successful+prevention+of+blindness+program.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cPrimary+eye+care+is+the+primary+health+care+approach+to+the+prevention+of+blindness.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cEssential+components+of+primary+eye+care%0d%0a1.+2.+3.+4.+Promotive+Preventive+Curative+Rehabilitative%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c(1)+Promotive+eye+care%0d%0a1.Creating+and+awareness+of+the+blinding+diseases+existing+in+the+community+and+the+ways+of+preventing+or+curing+it.+2.How+to+use+the+available+recourses+to+overcome+the+problems.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c(2)+Preventive+eye+care%0d%0a1.Motivation+of+individuals+and+their+communities+to+participate+in+blindness+prevention+activities.+2.Social+and+community+development+that+promotes+health+3.Change+of+behavior+and+environment%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cExamples%0d%0a%ef%81%b6Provision+of+adequate+safe+water.+construction+of+latrines+%26refuse+pits+%ef%81%b6maintenance+of+environmental+hygiene.+%ef%81%b6Consumption+of+food+rich+in+vitamin+A.+%ef%81%b6Care+for+individuals+at+risk.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%ef%81%b6Prevention+of+measles%2c+malnutrition+and+diarrhea+in+children+%ef%81%b6Protection+of+eyes+against+injuries.+%ef%81%b6Immunization+(E.g.+Measles)+%ef%81%b6Screening+of+antenatal+mothers+for+sexually+transmitted+diseases.+%ef%81%b6Family+planning%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c(3)+Curative+activities%0d%0a1.+To+carry+out+treatment+procedures+for+simple+common+diseases+that+lead+to+blindness+or+impaired+vision+if+not+treated+e.g.+corneal+ulcers%2c+refractive+errors+etc.+2.+First+aid+treatment+for+eye+injuries.+3.Timely+referral+to+secondary+level.+4.Identification+of+potentially+blinding+disease+conditions+for+proper+management+5.Identification+of+curable+blinding+diseases+e.g.cataract+and+referral+for+treatment%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c(4)+Rehabilitative+activities%0d%0aTarget+group%3a+Incurably+blind+people+What+can+the+primary+eye+care+workers+do+to+them+%3f+They+should+be+assured+that+they+are+not+completely+useless%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%ef%83%98%0d%0a%0d%0aSome+carefully+selected+appropriate+training+should+be+given+to+them+to+acquire+some+skills%0d%0a%0d%0a%ef%83%98Make+them+functional+and+do+not+allow+to+depend+on+the+others+totally.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cDevelopment+of+primary+eye+care+program%0d%0aA+good+primary+Eye+care+Program+will+depend+on+%3a%0d%0a%0d%0a(1)+existing+health+care+services+and+availability+of+trained+health+care+workers+(Manpower)+(2)+Political+and+professional+motivation%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c(3)+Resources+for+training%2c+to+conduct+programs+and+to+monitor+it.%0d%0a%0d%0a(4)+Supplies+for+primary+eye+care+workers.%0d%0a(5)+Funding+for+capital+and+recurrent+expenditure.+(6)+Close+liaison+with+secondary+and+tertiary+centers+(7)+Careful+Planning+and+evaluation%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cBasic+equipment+essential+for+PEC+program%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Snellens+chart+and+pinhole+%e2%80%a2+Hand+magnifying+lens+%e2%80%a2+Good+source+of+light+(Torch+with+batteries)+%e2%80%a2+Eye+dressings+%e2%80%a2+Teaching+materials%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cDifferent+Types+of+Primary+Eye+care+Programs+that+can+be+used+in+the+community%0d%0a%e2%80%a2+Depend+on+the+need+of+the+local+community+and+available+resources+1.+Need+assessment+Programs+2.+Screening+for+blinding+diseases+3.+Comprehensive+care+Eye+camps+4.+Out+reach+Surgical+Camps+5.+Health+Education+Programs%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cSustainability+of+the+PEC+programs%0d%0aDepend+on+the+following+areas%0d%0a1.+Technical+sustainability+%3a-+Training+of+technical+staff+2.+Financial+sustainability+%3a-+Continuous+allocation+of+funds+necessary+3.+Operational+sustainability+%3a-+Monitoring+of+the+activities+regularly.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCommunity+Participation%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cOttawa+charter+and+health+promotion%0d%0aIn+1986+an+international+conference+called+Ottawa+charter+adopts+five+principal+elements+that+improve+health+promotion.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cThe+Five+principals+are%0d%0a1.+2.+3.+4.+5.+Healthy+public+policy+Personnel+skills+development+Community+participation+Healthy+and+supportive+environment+Re-organization+of+health+services%0d%0a%0d%0aCommunity+participation+is+a+major+emphasis+in+eye+health+promotion.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cThe+promotion+of+eye+health+and+to+reduce+the+risk+of+blindness+though+community+ophthalmology+needs+good+community+participation%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCommunity+participation+is+influenced+by%0d%0a1.+Community+beliefs+and+perceptions%0d%0a%0d%0a2.+Motivation+of+people+in+the+community%0d%0a3.+Awareness+of+the+problems+related+to+blindness%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCommunity+participation+can+be+improved+by%0d%0a1.+Encouraging+the+people+with+early+symptoms+by+their+families+to+attend+to+available+health+services%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c2.+By+creating+and+awareness+through+health+education+programs+-+Mass+media+programs+-+Through+volunteers+or+community+health+workers+by+small+group+discussions+-+Through+community+leaders+-+Self+help+groups+-+Improving+education+of+children+through+schools%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCommunity+participation+enhances+eye+health%0d%0a1.+By+attending+to+the+community+health+programs+for+early+detection+2.+By+following+treatment+procedures+until+full+recovery%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c3.+By+adopting+changes+in+life+style+that+encourages+eye+health+4.+By+improving+the+living+environment+in+the+communities+to+reduce+the+risk+of+transmission+of+eye+diseases%0d%0a5.+By+creating+a+community+demand+by+the+people+of+the+community+to+develop+infra+structure+facilities+by+policy+makers+that+improves+eye+care+services.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cThere+is+a+high+demand+for+a+community+based+approach+in+the+prevention+of+blindness.+That+needs+proper+community+participation.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c