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25 Apr 2022
Health Education Services for VIP (Visual Impaired Persons) and Caregivers
Project leader: Mr Kevin Efrain Tololiu
Level of education and university: Master, Queensland University of Technology
Collaborating Organisations: Nursing Department, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo.
Project Location: Gorontalo
Activity Type: Training, workshop or seminar
Sector: -
Project Rationale:
In Indonesia, the number of blind persons was equivalent to 3% of the countrywide population from 2013-2018. The number of persons with visual impairment was 8 million cases, including blindness (1.65 million people) and moderate to severe visual impairment (6.36 million people). from this survey conducted in 15 provinces, the untreated cataract highlighting the gap including low awareness of eye care (Rif'At et al, 2021).
Based on the roadmap for visual impairment control in Indonesia 2017-2030 (p.20-21), the provision of eye nurses in public health centres is not yet available, limiting eye care access at the primary level. The primary care nurses are also not trained in cataract identification. Meanwhile, the number of skilled nurses working in hospitals located in small cities and remote areas is insufficient or even non-existent. The number of patients receiving eye surgery also does not cover all patients in need. This gap of service distribution shows inequality and the importance for updating relevant training to prepare proficient eye care nurses and caregivers.
In Gorontalo, an eye nurse is not available in all 10 public health centres, meaning locals must be referred to either ophthalmologists or referred hospitals. However, there are only two registered ophthalmologists in Gorontalo. Unfortunately, Gorontalo does not have a class A hospital which would be considered as the top health referral facility in the Indonesia's hospital classification (BPPSDM Kemenkes, 2021). To our knowledge, there is limited training on eye ca
Project Beneficiaries:
- Direct beneficiaries: 100 VIPs (mild to severe) and family members, 100 nurses spread across public health centres and hospitals in Boalemo, Pohuwato and North Gorontalo.
- Indirect beneficiaries:
- Health students, extended family members of VIP and local community in Gorontalo Province in general by listening the health promotion content through podcasts delivered in both Bahasa Indonesia and Hulanthalo language (estimated 210,000 people).
- Local government, academia and healthcare providers by receiving the developed module and research findings of health promotion strategy for VIPs.
- Local community in North Gorontalo, Boalemo, and Pohuwato by the establishment of cadres (estimated 55,000 people).
Priority Development Area:
Health Security
Link with Australian organisation:
School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology
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