Having the right people in the right place is the cornerstone to any successful eye health programme. Human resources for eye health (HReH) is a key building block underpinning any health system. Addressing the problem of having too few qualified eye health workers and poor distribution of those qualified health workers is one of the greatest challenges to meeting the goal of Universal Eye Health. In recognition of this IAPB established a committee in 2003 to look into how best IAPB and its members could coordinate efforts to address this problem more effectively.
The HReH committee has recently reviewed its terms of reference and has evolved into a working group with a focussed approach reflecting the areas of human resources development where it is believed it can add value. The new terms of reference are attached here.
The two priority areas the group will be concentrating their efforts around are:
- Training eye care teams – in collaboration with other stakeholders like the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) – “Scaling up numbers”;
- Advocacy with regions and countries to focus on Human Resource Development for eye health.
The group draws on members from the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO), World Council of Optometry (WCO), Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO), the regional HReH work groups, and where required experts in curriculum development and training will be co opted to the group.
Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (AOP) Curriculum
- Effective practices for eye care team (Case studies)
- Resources for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (A list that will be updated regularly)
- Allied Ophthalmic Personnel Training of trainers curriculum
The “Allied Ophthalmic Personnel Training the Trainers Curriculum” provides resources necessary to educate trainers of AOP to be effective educators. It highlights a list of competencies believed to be important for trainers of AOP.The effective practices for eye care team has case studies from India, Latin America and East Africa. They offer insight into:
- priority points in the organisation of the eye health workforce
- systems for training
- consideration of retaining and providing continuing professional development
Two of the case studies have been provided by IAPB members: LV Prasad Eye Institute and Aravind Eye Care System.
The Resources for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel is a list in progress, to which more additions will be made.
For more information on the HReH Working Group please email us.
Key Documents
Global Human Resource Development Assessment for Comprehensive Eye Care – June 2006
Human Resources for Eye Health Working Group Terms of Reference