An Assessment of the Human Resource in Eye Care in the Upper East Region, Ghana

Abstract

The aim of the study was to measure the availability and distribution of human resources in eye care in the Upper East region. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data was collected from all government, private and Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) eye care facilities in the region on the type and number of eye care professionals and their distribution. In total 38 eye care personnel were in the region: 1 ophthalmologist (2.63%), 6 optometrist (15.79%), 25 ophthalmic nurses (65.79%) and 6 opticians (15.79%). Two out of the 25 ophthalmic nurses coupled as cataract surgeons. The ophthalmologist to population ratio was 1: 1,046,545, optometrist to population ratio was 1: 174,424, ophthalmic nurse to population ratio was 1: 41,861 and optician to population ratio was 1: 174,424. Of the 38 eye care personnel in the region, 15 (39.47%) worked in the government sector, 3 (7.90%) worked in the private sector and 20 (52.63%) worked with the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG). Majority (97.37%) of the eye care personnel were located in the urban part of the region, with just 1 (2.63%) eye care personnel in a rural area. The human resource for eye care presently available in the Upper East region is inadequate. Eye care professionals are poorly distributed, with severe shortage of personnel in the rural and isolated part of the region. Most of the eye care human resources in the region are located in urban centers and CHAG facilities.